.... The Quest For Meaning: Developing a Philosophy of Pluralism would indicate by its title and Ramadan’s reputation as an “Islamic reformer” that it would address the almost total lack of pluralism in the Muslim world.
Not so. In fact, the ills of the Muslim world do not come up except in one minor aside about the passion of crowds aimed mainly at criticizing Western democracy. The entire book is one long condescending criticism of Western philosophy, politics and social structure.
Of course Ramadan has a lot to draw from with regard to Western criticism of Western culture because the history and development of the West involves copious criticism from all sides – this is, in fact, the secret of Western advancement - and yet the thought seems never to occur to Ramadan as to why no such tradition exists in the Islamic world. [New English Review] Read more
