OSMAN BAKAR AND EPISTEMOLOGICAL RENEWAL IN THE MUSLIM WORLD

Abstract

This article examines the ideas of a philosopher-historian, Osman Bakar, and his call for an “epistemological renewal” in the Muslim world. Epistemological renewal involves, firstly, laying bare the knowledge crisis that has plagued contemporary Muslims. Secondly, Osman advocates the reconstruction of modern knowledge through the paradigm of dual consilience to overcome the problems that have been brought about by secularism, materialism and European universalism. Through his interrogation of issues affecting Muslim thought in the modern world, Osman has posed many searching questions for Muslims in Southeast Asia and beyond to consider in their bid to move beyond colonial constructions of knowledge and recover the past legacies of the Muslim civilisation.