تغييرات

Ahmed Gharbiya

Ahmed Gharbiya

Technical Officer

Technical Consultant

ahmad@gharbeia.org

ahmad@gharbeia.org

==Context==  

==Context==  

Perhaps "theorizing" is the term with the worst reputation, among youth who seek social change. As it is associated with the image of an isolated intellectual in his ivory tower, reading and contemplating about thoughts away from reality, speaking with an arrogant rhetoric that no one understand. The definitive evidence of the corruption of "theorizing" is that it is abstract, which means from their point of view, lack of realism and reason, and thus is condemned as a waste of effort and time.

Perhaps "theorizing" is the word with the worst reputation, among youth who seek social change. As it is associated with the image of an isolated intellectual in his ivory tower, bent on reading and contemplating, shaved in the sky of thought away from reality, speaking with an arrogant rhetoric that no one understand. The definitive evidence of the corruption of "theorizing" is that it is abstract. Which means to them, lack of realism and reason, and that it is beyond life and people. Thus is condemned as a waste of effort and time.

In fact, everyone is a philosopher, in his own way, even if he does not realize it. Everyone, regardless of affiliation or activity, has a collection of generalizations, and initial assumptions about the world, himself, his position and the relationship with others. Every one of us adopts a theory regardless his admission. There is no exception between loyalist and opponent; reactionary, conservative and progressive; who discriminate women, racist, sectarian or homophobic; or nationalist, liberal, Islamic, leftist, and even the state security officer who monitor them all.

In fact, everyone is a philosopher, in his own way, even if he does not realize it. Everyone, regardless of affiliation or activity, has a collection of generalizations, and initial assumptions about the world, himself, his position and his relationship with others. Every one of us adopts a theory even if he refuses to recognize. There is no exception between loyalist and opponent; reactionary, conservative and progressive; who discriminate women, racist, sectarian or homophobic; or nationalist, liberal, Islamic, leftist, and even the state security officer who monitor them all.

Each of us crystallizes his "theory" cumulatively, through a mix of different and often contradictory concepts; initially, as a result of simply being in a society with certain biases, and receiving specific culture; then, at a later stage, through experience, theoretical knowledge and interaction with individuals and groups with different experiences.  

Often, each of us develops his "theory" cumulatively, through a mix of different and contradictory concepts. Initially, as a result of simply being in a society with certain biases, and receiving specific culture. At a later stage, through experience, theoretical knowledge and interaction with individuals and groups with different experiences. Ultimately, creating his own perception of the world

The battle for justice, freedom and equality is at core a battle between different concepts of the world; a battle to get rid of ideas that promote exploitation, tyranny and discrimination and replace them with progressive liberating ideas and theories that call for justice, freedom and equality.

The battle for justice, freedom and equality is at its core a battle between different concepts of the world. The battle to get rid of ideas that promote exploitation, tyranny and discrimination and replace them with progressive liberating ideas and theories that call for justice, freedom and equality.

Activists, who say that they do not need theory and only follow their instinct, i.e. try to change the world without making the enough effort to understand it as it really is, with its deformity and change possibilities, and to understand their role and position in this process, are actually fighting windmills blindfolded. Their "common sense" may include elements needed to lay the groundwork for a new world, but those elements need to be extracted, purified, developed, and isolated from a pile of contradictory and conflicting ideas that also contribute to the formation of "common sense".

Activists, who say that they do not need theory and only follow their instinct, that is to say, trying to change the world without making enough effort to understand it as it really is, with its deformity and change possibilities; or understand their role and position in this process; are actually fighting windmills blindfolded. Their "common sense" may include elements needed to lay the groundwork for a new world, but those elements need to be extracted, purified, developed, and isolated from a pile of contradictory and conflicting ideas, that also contribute to the formation of "common sense".

This is a very difficult task in general. As the dominant ideas always belong to those who shape education, media, religion, culture and other determinants of consciousness. Interest of those is to dedicate the status quo.

This is a very difficult task in general. As the dominant ideas always belong to those who shape education, media, religion, culture and other determinants of consciousness. Interest of those is to dedicate the status quo.