Ep.47 Podcast Show Notes: Demystifying Social Science and the Religion of Liberal Economics

In Episode 47 of The Thinking Muslim Podcast we interviewed the eminent academic Dr Asad Zaman. His lectures and writings on Economics and Social Science are compiled below, along with a selection of further insights on the subject.

You can listen to the episode here.

Academic Paper: The Origins of Western Social Sciences

Abstract: On the whole, Muslims have accepted Western claims that both social sciences and physical sciences are equally fact and logic based, and "positive" descriptions of reality. In fact, Western formulations of social sciences hide ethical and social commitments to secular views which conflict the Islamic views. Widespread acceptance by Muslims of these false claims to factuality and objectivity has prevented the development of genuine Islamic alternatives, and has been a serious obstacle to progress in the project of "Islamization of Knowledge". The goal of this paper is to examine the origins of Western Social Science, and to show how it is based on secular preconceptions antithetical to Islam.

Published in the Journal of Islamic Economics, Banking and Finance, Vol. 5, No. 2

Course: How to Launch an Islamic Revival

“This course summarizes my decades of effort to understand the burning question which faces us all as Muslims. The message of Islam took the early Muslims from the bottom rank to leadership of World Civilizations. The knowledge given by Allah to mankind enlightened the world for a thousand years. What was the cause of the decline of the Islamic Civilization, and how can it be reversed?”

Books:

• Hill & Myatt: “Economics Anti-Textbook”

  Among the many arguments against conventional economic theories, Hill and Myatt explain how these theories justify the extreme inequality that we see.

• Robert Nelson: “Economics as Religion”

  Nelson discusses the many ways in which economists are ideologically committed to their principles, which have no basis in facts or logic. An important one among these is the commitment to efficiency over equity.

• Julie Nelson: “Economics for Humans”

  People believe in generosity, kindness, cooperation, sacrificing for others. However, Economic theory trains them to think of this as irrational. It also teaches them that selfishness leads to social welfare.

Video: Economic Theory: Presenting Values as Facts