Cognitive Science 0347 - Darwin in the Muslim World

This course will look at the way Darwin's theory of biological evolution was received in the Muslim world in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and how these debates have played out to contemporary times. We will encounter early defenders of Darwin's ideas like Sayyid Ahmad Khan in British India and the Grand Mufti of Egypt, Muhammad Abduh, as well as critics such as the proponent of pan-Islamism, Jamal al-din Afghani. We will also look at the way culture and politics today shape the debate over the acceptance and rejection of biological evolution in Turkey, Pakistan, and for Muslim minorities in Europe and the United States.

Multiple Cultural Perspectives Writing and Research Students are expected to spend approximately 6-8 hours of preparation and work outside of class time.