Eurocentrism and its Impact on Arab thought (A Critical View)

Abstract

This research uses analysis and synthesis to explore the historical rise of European and Eastern centralism, focusing particularly on Orientalism and its influence on Arab intellectuals. It examines how certain philosophers contributed to the philosophical foundation of Eurocentrism and its exclusionary stance toward non-European thought. The study critiques the claim that Western rationality alone leads to truth and perfection, which has led to the marginalization of Eastern philosophy under the pretense that it lacks a rational method. This perspective positions European history as the sole model of rational civilization. The research also investigates the link between Eurocentrism and the idea of progress, distinguishing it from mere change or evolution. It argues that progress reflects human will, and history is its counterpart—where humanity, through its limitless potential, gains the ability to understand and master both self and nature. This understanding fuels the aspiration to explain, control, and dominate all aspects of life, free from external authority.