Lost Wisdom: Rethinking Modernity in Iran

by Abbas Milani

In the essays collected here, Abbas Milani uses an impressive array of cross-disciplinary Western and Iranian theories and texts to investigate the crucial question of modernity in Iran today. He offers a wealth of new insights into the thousand-year-old conflict in Iran between the search for modernity and the forces of religious obscurantism. The essays trace the roots of Shiite Islamic fundamentalism and offer illuminating accounts of the work of Iranian intellectuals -- both men and women -- and their artistic movements as they struggle to find a new path toward a genuine modernity in Iran that is congruent with Iran's rich cultural heritage. This book challenges the hitherto accepted theory that modernity and its related concepts of democracy and freedom are Western in essence. It also demonstrates that Iran and the West have more that brings them together than separates them in their search for such modern ideals as rationalism, the rule of law, and democracy.

Genres: Iran

164 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2003

About the author

Abbas Milani is the Hamid and Christina Moghadam Director of Iranian Studies at Stanford University and a visiting professor in the department of political science. In addition, Dr. Milani is a research fellow and co-director of the Iran Democracy Project at the Hoover Institution. His expertise is U.S./Iran relations, Iranian cultural, political, and security issues.

Reviews

[Navid Asmari Saadabad]

It is evident that many resources have been reviewed to write each of the chapters; This fact, together with the meticulous selection of the words make the book a very interesting read.

[nooshisooshi]

excerpts from academis essays and analysis on famous Persian scholars. Milani has plenty of insight intp politics, Iranian psche, art and post-modern Iran in this medley of essays.

[Mani NOIE]

BAD NABOOD