Bibliotheca Alexandrina holds a scientific conference on the ideology of Dr. Hisham Sharaby
Posted on
In collaboration with the Egyptian Center for Knowledge Formation, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina organized a conference entitled “Hisham Sharaby and the dilemma of the Arab Society”. The conference took place on 27th and 28th December 2001 and was chaired by Dr. Sayed Nafady. Dr. Hisham Sharaby spoke first about his ideology and experience. The conference tackled many issues. Dr. Hassan Hanafy participated in the discussion of the issue of the father figure in the Arab Society and the development dilemma, through presenting a study on the ideology of Dr. Hisham Sharaby. Dr. Salah Konsowa discussed the relation between text and history in the works of Hisham Sharaby. Dr. Mohamed El-Said tackled the scientific method of Hisham Sharaby. While, Mr. Aly Mabrouk, handled the criticism of the father figure in the society and the Arabic culture in the works of Hisham Sharaby.
The second focus was on discussing the critical view of Dr. Hisham Sharaby. Dr. Salah Konsowa along with Mr. El-Zawawi Bakkoura discussed the language of Hisham Sharaby. Dr. Mezian Bin Shaky gave his lecture on language and the centralization of debate of the father figure.
The third issue tackled in the conference was the Arab intellectuals (cultured Arabs) and the western world; the most important point that delt with the ideology of Dr. Hisham Sharaby. In this respect, Dr. Ahmed Adel Halim discussed the notion of the western world in the works of Sharaby while Dr. Mohamed Afifi discussed Sharaby""s book entitled “The Arab Intellectuals and the western world” Dr. Mohamed Khalil analyzed the beginning of the cultural movement and the development modes in the works of Sharaby, Dr. Maher Mohamed presented the view of Sharaby on the Arab Intellectuals and Dr. Hany El- Maraashly discussed the issue of intellectuals in the works of Hisham Sharaby. On the problems of women and children in the ideology of Hisham Sharaby, Dr. Essam El Din Helal tackled the upbringing of children in the works of Hisham Sharaby. Mr. Yaakoub El Sharouny presented the role of knowledge in forming children mentality. Mr. Mahdy Bondouk spoke about Hisham Sharaby and the Arab women. Dr. Amany El-Sharnouby presented the role of women in the desert communities. Dr. Hisham Sharaby""s value as an intellectual is based on his numerous books and writings, which enriched the Arab Culture. Among his most important writings are “Introductions on studying the Arab Society” in six editions including many researches on the structure of the family in the Arab Society, the consciousness and change, the Arab and cultural challenge and the social education and culture. The book entitled “The father figure and the problem of the Arab Society Backwardness” in four editions was published in English in 1998 at Oxford university and then translated by Mr. Mahmoud Shareeh. In this book, Sharaby discussed the concept of the Father figure as an authority that hinders changing the Arab structure in which the Arab Socitey is represented specially on the cultural level.
The book entitled “The Arab intellectuals and the Western World” is currently considered the most important among the books of Sharaby as it raises the issue of dialogue that the Arab world misses. The book analyzes in depth the relation between the Arab intellectuals and the western world in the period between 1875 to 1914. Sharaby perceives in this book that when we understand the western world and come close to its experiences and hardships as many Arab Thinkers of the generation have done, this world will never control us. We have no other choice but to face the western world specially that we are still considered a marginal issue in its new system. In this book, Sharaby explains that we can adapt ourselves to the western world and show solidarity till we free ourselves from being mere followers and till we evaluate our independent Arab system. Many other books both in English and in Arabic were written by Hisham Sharaby. Some of these books are “The cultural criticism of the Arab society in the Twentieth Century”, “politics and Governments in the Middle East”, “The Last journey”, “Ember and Ashes”. Sharaby wrote his biography in a book entitled “Pictures from the past”. Many intellectuals criticized and analyzed Sharaby""s works. Mr. El Sayed Yassine was the most distinguished critic who thought of Sharaby""s book entitled Introduction to Studying the Arab Society” as a model of self criticism. Mr. Khaled El-Naggar thinks that there is a trend for change in Hisham Sharaby""s works, but this trend is a resultant of an ideological dream but through dismantling the mechanism of a group of concepts attracting the Arab consciousness to the concept of moderation and modernism. The author Asaad Khair Allah perceives Sharaby""s autobiography entitled “Pictures from the Past” as the most sophisticated work in our language. Sharaby""s works were highly regarded by the western cultural medium. In Sweden, Anika Babou wrote in the “Contemporary Sociology Magazine” that Hisham Saharaby is one of the Arab researchers who knows and understands the western culture as much as they know non-western cultures. She also said that in today""s world the west needs an external critical view which will help it better understand itself. In the Arab-American Affairs Magazine, Graham Foller wrote that Hisham Sharaby is full well aware of the challenge that faces the Arab Society and knows that the necessary changes are inevitable. He also said that Sharaby""s writings are considered words of wisdom and theories that require accurate analyses and serious cultural studies.
Dr. Hisham Sharaby was born in Yafa, spent his childhood in his grand parent""s house in Akka, studied at the Friends then joined the International College in Beirut in 1947, and he is currently working as a professor of Modern European Thought in George Town University in Washington.