Module 4 (Make-up)

While I have learned about the intense impact Middle Eastern thinkers have had on the Western world, most notably the transference of knowledge between the Arabic-speaking world and Europe during the Renaissance period, I understand that, generally, as a society, we tend to focus solely on European thinkers and social movements when discussing the subject of "modernity". While I was familiar with Raphael's fresco, The School of Athens, that is presented in NPR's "Reframing History: The Commentator", I was unfamiliar with the figure of Averroes. When listening to the segment, I expected his teachings and ideas to be dismissed or disregarded by the European thinkers and general public at the time, however, as University of Colorado Philosophy professor Robert Pasnau remarks, "The reality is, really, that this was a much more multicultural time, and it just seemed perfectly natural to people that they would take this material from a source that was a non-Christian source". I initially expected the European world to discriminate or disregard Averroes' ideas just because he was a non-white, Muslim philosopher, however, as Europe was much more multiethnic and multicultural during the time, in a period of extreme cultural exchange, it is understandable for Europeans to gain knowledge from beyond the Western world. Our understanding of "modernity" and what is "modern" is not confined to the Western world/Europe alone. Despite the intense purpose he held for our current understanding of the "standard for how one ought to approach philosophy without worrying about the religious implications", his teachings and influence are seldom taught within our education systems, likely due to, as Pasnau remarks "a change in worldview and a privileging of Greek antiquity and a diminishment of other traditions. You know, that's a legacy that endures to this day". 

While we may consider our "modern" science and "modern" technological advancements as being derived from newfound innovations created by sole individuals who developed ideas for these advancements on their own, this is seldom the case. As we see with Nicholas Copernicus (whose work I never expected to be deemed "unoriginal"), what we consider "modern" innovations have almost always resulted from "(r)evolution". As Michal Kokowski describes, "even the most revolutionary theory has many components of an evolutionary origin" (56). While Copernicus took data from Ptolemy, Hipparchus, and many other sources from Europe, and especially the Arabic world (through his studying of Arabic astrological models), this did not invalidate his work or efforts. In taking these previous studies and models into account, he was able to mold and develop his own theories, theories of which truly revolutionized how we see our world. 

Within the tumultuous time that we live in, introspection is natural, if not almost involuntary. As the pandemic continues to affect our everyday lives, most notably the interactions we have with others, we are left alone with our own thoughts, some of which we seldom examined before. In some ways, these thoughts can indeed be "therapeutic medicine for the soul". From the beginning of the pandemic, many individuals have been able to better express themselves creatively, taking the time to examine their wants and dreams. However, on the contrary, this lack of social interaction has left many in a place of distress. However, despite the general air of uncertainty that still looms over our society today amidst the pandemic, we still strive to persevere.