Abstract
Modern social theory has discussed the existence of multiple modernities as alternatives to the dominant Western model (Eisenstadt 2000). Decolonial thinkers like Quijano (1991) and Mignolo (2000) have called for “de-linking” from Western modernity to create decolonized “transmodern” perspectives (Dussel 1995). Western modernity, once seen as universal, is now considered just one expression, its global reach attributed to colonial empires (Grosfoguel 2006). While critiques of Western modernity abound, few philosophies have addressed the coexistence and ethical differentiation of modernities. Moroccan philosopher Taha Abderrahman offers a framework for an endogenous Muslim modernity as an alternative to the Western model. His works, The Question of Ethics (2000) and The Spirit of Modernity (2005), move from critiquing Western modernity to proposing a Muslim version, where ethics is a defining feature. I argue that translation is key to connecting ethics and modernity. For Abderrahman, translation is not just the adoption of modern principles but an ethical process of transforming from dependence on the West to an autonomous, self-directed modernity. His system seeks to “translate” modernity’s spirit—free from Western dominance—into a Muslim version grounded in Islamic ethics, offering a more effective response to global challenges. This theoretical approach uses translation as the ethical basis for creating a Muslim modernity that integrates core Islamic values and provides an alternative to Western modernity.
Presenters
Salah BasalamahChair and Professor, School of Translation and Interpretation, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Translation, Modernity, Ethics, Islam, Liberation
