Humanity suffers in part due to its inability to unite absolute, ethical codes and relative values assigned subjectively by humans. Values are defined as internal references of what humans consider good or bad, desirable or undesirable. The field of axiology, or study of value, has long been a pillar of philosophical inquiry. Since the earliest days of theologians, prophets, religious scholars, and philosophers of ethics … Continue reading The essence of values
In the grand tapestry of the universe, every entity possesses a raison d’être, a reason for existing that connects it to a higher purpose. This raison d’etre is the guiding force that bestows direction and harmony upon the entity’s journey through existence. However, a profound challenge arises when there exists a misalignment between the raison d’être as envisioned by the natural order and its interpretation … Continue reading The raison d’être of the republic
Secularism involves the separation of religion from civic affairs and the state institutions. Principles typically emphasize equality before law and state neutrality to religious affairs. It has been applied differently across different parts of the world. Some regimes, such as the US or Canada, are secular but theists. All citizens are equal before the law, but the concept of credo in one God is emphasized … Continue reading A Secularist Philosophy Based on Omnism
Sami is a bankrupt individual struggling to pay bills, searching for a way to get back on his feet. He is seeking a career change but holds conflicted goals and is confused about his purpose in life. He decides to rush into a new career route, only to decide once again it wasn’t meant for him. He loses motivation at work, ends up getting fired … Continue reading Why Identity Matters
Despite there being no evidence of any successful nation in the world without a shared collective national identity, many Lebanese are quick to dismiss any serious discussion about the need for such an identity. Firstly, prejudice against the notion emerged, due to tribal, cultural or religious sensitivities, even though none of the Abrahamic religious books actually contradict any features of Lebanese history. It is important … Continue reading Common misconceptions about identity
Tribes are the oldest human organization structure known and seem to be the default type. Since early days as hunter-gatherers, humans formed bonds with one another, creating groups of tribes that shared communal norms and rules. Over time, as agricultural and trade settlements occurred, tribes united to form larger collective groups, bringing into existence cities, nations, and states. Tribes preserved their customs and/or integrated into … Continue reading Why tribalism exists
Pan-Arabism emerged in the mid-1800s, advocating for the unification of the tribes from North Africa, Western Asia and the Arabian Gulf. The introduction of the printing press by Napoleon in Egypt allowed the codification and spread of Modern Standard Arabic as an official language, borrowed from Classical Arabic literature. The ideology was a way to unite multi-sectarian tribes who spoke similar dialects, initially to free … Continue reading Pan-Arabism: origin and evolution
In the early days of the republic, the Pan-Arabist ideology came into clash with an ideology based on Phoenicianism. Pan-Arabism emerged in the mid-1800s, advocating for the unification of multi-sectarian tribes who spoke similar dialects from North Africa, Western Asia and the Arabian Peninsula. Phoenicianism was a way to promote a pan-sectarian identity within Lebanon by reviving an old civilization that formed the foundational heritage … Continue reading Cultural syncretism and ideology
It is sometimes argued that there is no clear evidence of continuity between Ancient Lebanon (Phoenicia) and modern-day Lebanon. In fact, the reality is that there exists no sign of discontinuity. A civilization is continuous so long as there has not been any major exodus from the land and emergence of new settlements into the land, which would trigger a discontinuity in cultural evolution, governance … Continue reading A 5,000 year-old civilization
Narratives around the history of our nation have been hijacked by one-dimensional stories promoted by sectarian ideologues. There are few more anti-intellectual settings then hearing discussions about the nature of the Lebanese identity. The presence of clashing views is inevitable when one enters into such debates without first defining whether the identity is based on religious, linguistic, ethnic grounds or on the continuity of statehood … Continue reading 18 tribes, one civilization
