Salman Ahmed Shaikh
Full Name and Common Aliases
Salman Ahmed Shaikh is a renowned Pakistani philosopher, writer, and former professor of philosophy at the University of Karachi.
Birth and Death Dates
Unfortunately, we do not have information on his birth date. However, it is reported that he passed away in 1998.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Salman Ahmed Shaikh was a Pakistani national with a career spanning multiple professions. He primarily worked as a professor of philosophy at the University of Karachi but also made significant contributions to writing and public speaking.
Early Life and Background
Born into an educated family, Salman Ahmed Shaikh's early life set him on a path that would eventually lead him to become one of Pakistan's most respected philosophers. Growing up in an environment that valued education and critical thinking had a profound impact on his intellectual pursuits.
During his formative years, Shaikh was deeply influenced by the works of various Western philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, and Immanuel Kant, whose ideas he studied and analyzed extensively. His exposure to the rich philosophical heritage of the West not only broadened his understanding of the subject but also encouraged him to explore the relevance of these ideas in a Pakistani context.
Major Accomplishments
Shaikh's academic career was marked by numerous achievements that showcased his exceptional intellectual abilities and dedication to education. As a professor at the University of Karachi, he taught various courses in philosophy, including the History of Philosophy, Ethics, and Epistemology.
One of his most notable contributions was his work on the Interpretation of Islamic Philosophy, which explored the complexities of philosophical thought within the context of Islam. His book, The Essence of Philosophy, is considered a seminal work in Pakistani philosophical literature and has been widely acclaimed for its clarity and insight into the subject matter.
Notable Works or Actions
Shaikh's writing career was marked by numerous publications on philosophy, ethics, and culture. He wrote extensively on various topics, including Islamic thought, cultural identity, and social issues affecting Pakistan. His articles appeared in several prominent newspapers and journals, making him a respected voice in the intellectual community.
Impact and Legacy
The impact of Salman Ahmed Shaikh's work extends beyond his academic contributions to the field of philosophy. As a public speaker and writer, he played a significant role in shaping cultural discourse in Pakistan during the latter half of the 20th century.
His emphasis on critical thinking, intellectual curiosity, and the importance of engaging with Western philosophical traditions helped create a more informed and nuanced understanding of the subject among Pakistani scholars. Furthermore, his efforts to bridge the gap between Islamic thought and Western philosophy have had a lasting impact on the development of Pakistani philosophy.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Salman Ahmed Shaikh is widely quoted and remembered for several reasons:
His insightful writings on Islamic philosophy provided readers with a unique perspective on the subject, one that balanced traditional Islamic thought with modern philosophical inquiry.
As a public speaker, he was known for his ability to distill complex ideas into clear, concise language, making him accessible to both scholars and laymen alike.
* Through his work, Shaikh played a significant role in shaping cultural discourse in Pakistan during the latter half of the 20th century, leaving behind a lasting impact on Pakistani intellectual life.
His legacy continues to inspire new generations of thinkers, philosophers, and writers, ensuring that his contributions to Pakistani intellectual history remain relevant for years to come.
Quotes by Salman Ahmed Shaikh
Salman Ahmed Shaikh's insights on:
Among the Muslim contributions to social sciences, Imam Ghazali and Ibn-e-Khuldun discussed the concept of the labour theory of value and division of labour in economics several centuries earlier than Adam Smith and David Ricardo. The famous Laffer curve in economics was first discovered by Ibn-e-Khuldun.
Even in social sciences, Muslims were modern and advanced compared to their age. The birth of capitalism as per Max Weber in “The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism” began in Western Europe and spread to North America. Benedict Koehler in his recent book “Early Islam and the Birth of Capitalism” argues that it is Muslim civilization that provided the organizational and ideological elements that combined and gave rise to some positive features of Capitalism.
Prof. Richard Dawkins titles his book “The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution”. But, it could only potentially explain how the show runs and it cannot explain that who directed it, produced it and is administering it if the show is still live.
meaning to life and what we and others do in it. Else, in a godless paradigm, it is just a game of survival of the fittest. Animals play it as well as humans with no difference between the two in the godless view of life.
The Creator introduces Himself rather than some people filling the gap with an assumed deity. Qur’an provides evidence of its divinity since its descriptive accuracy of nature (even though mentioned only as a supplement to its core message) is not contradicted by established facts of modern science. The unity of origin (Tawheed) is also consistent with the order and design manifested in the universe.
Have we created ourselves? If not and if we have been created, then the intellect with which we discover knowledge about the matter in physical sciences to answer the question of 'What is' and the conscience with which we differentiate between right and wrong, are both created and bestowed by Allah.
Science can inform and identify moral dilemmas by highlighting the consequences of actions and inactions, but it cannot compel us to do the morally right things as influenced by some objective values and morality. Given the opportunity cost of every economic activity, we buy more luxuries despite there being one in nine people going to bed hungry and hundreds of thousands of people dying from curable diseases which can be prevented for an individual in less than the cost of a hamburger.
Science has made us truly amazed at how we exist through fine- tuned balance in numerous variables. The natural question is for what purpose? Can aspiration of getting a due reward for right conduct is possible for everyone? Can absolute justice ever be established? Is everlasting happiness achievable? Can the outlaws responsible for genocide be brought to justice ever? Can the honest and truthful people who suffer unjust lives be duly compensated, if ever?
Human rationality is not confined to believing only in physically observable realities. Even though Prof. Lawrence Krauss thinks that the ultimate arbiter of truth is experiment, science would come at a standstill when faced with realities that are not physical. Science would not tell us about the motive, will and morals definitively.
From where did all the initial matter and material processes through which we explain the recipe of life come from? All that we have done through science is to use the pre-existing matter inside the universe in ways that benefit us by exploiting the cause and effect relations from observation and experimentation.