----- Original Message ----- From: Richard H. Gravelly A note in Miracles and Metaphors points out that "Ibn-Khaldun, who has been called the founder of sociology, argued that religion can only succeed if it receives the backing of the prophet's people on the basis of kinship solidarity". Was he truly the founder of sociology? Why was he called the founder of sociology?
Richard. Reply dear richard: Please see http://www.ummah.net/history/scholars/KHALDUN.html Ibn Khaldun's chief contribution lies in philosophy of history and sociology. He sought to write a world history preambled by a first volume aimed at an analysis of historical events. This volume, commonly known as Muqaddimah or 'Prolegomena', was based on Ibn Khaldun's unique approach and original contribution and became a masterpiece in literature on philosophy of history and sociology. The chief concern of this monumental work was to identify psychological, economic, environmental and social facts that contribute to the advancement of human civilization and the currents of history. In this context, he analysed the dynamics of group relationships and showed how group-feelings, al-'Asabiyya, give rise to the ascent of a new civilisation and political power and how, later on, its diffusion into a more general civilization invites the advent of a still new 'Asabiyya in its pristine form. He identified an almost rhythmic repetition of rise and fall in human civilization, and analysed factors contributing to it. His contribution to history is marked by the fact that, unlike most earlier writers interpreting history largely in a political context, he emphasised environmental, sociological, psychological and economic factors governing the apparent events. This revolutionised the science of history and also laid the foundation of Umraniyat (Sociology). http://web.missouri.edu/~socbrent/khaldun.htm Recently, some sociologists have argued Ibn-Khaldun might be considered the founder of sociology because he developed important sociological concepts such as social forces, social facts, and social laws. His work emphasized both conflict and solidarity, thus being related to both functionalism and the conflict perspective. http://home.att.net/~a.f.aly/khaldun.htm Ibn Khaldun (The Real Father Of Sociology) Ibn Khaldun, a Sufi who died in 1406 AD, was a renaissance man, the real father of sociology. He defined the foundations of sociology more than 4 centuries before Auguste Comte "discovered" them He concluded that societies are living organisms that experience cyclic birth, growth, maturity, decline, and ultimately death due to universal causes. Each phase of the cycle lasts for several generations. He also described the process through which peaceful or violent migrants blend with the native population to form a homogeneous society subject to the universal cycles. In some of his works Ibn Khaldun doubted those hadiths which indicate the coming of Mahdi [Mirza Abu'l-Faz.l] http://www.bogvaerker.dk/Bookwright/Mahdi.html http://www.al-islam.org/mahdi/nontl/Toc.htm ---------- You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Baha'i Studies is available through the following: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://list.jccc.net/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=bahai-st news://list.jccc.net/bahai-st http://www.escribe.com/religion/bahaist (public) http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] (public)
