The Third Extraordinary Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Summit held in Mecca on 7-8 December 2005 has brought to the forefront the question of whether it can serve as a voice for the... Show moreThe Third Extraordinary Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Summit held in Mecca on 7-8 December 2005 has brought to the forefront the question of whether it can serve as a voice for the Muslim world in its struggles to cope with the political and spiritual challenges it faces. Though the OIC has been severely criticized for its ineffectiveness, as the cartoon crisis in Denmark shows, the author argues that it is bound to play a critical role in the relations between the Muslim world and the West especially at a time when the former is struck with a sense of distrust, dislocation, and dispossession. Show less
For the first time in its history the World Congress of Philosophy met in a Muslim majority country. The meeting venue was more than symbolic for it confirmed philosophy's potential to be a... Show moreFor the first time in its history the World Congress of Philosophy met in a Muslim majority country. The meeting venue was more than symbolic for it confirmed philosophy's potential to be a universal discourse. Similarly, the choice of this year's theme, 'Philosophy Facing World Problems', points to the desire and potential of philosophy to engage in urgent problems o f the world. When analysed carefully, however, neither of these claims can be said to have been realized. Show less
