From Legend to Novel: Contemporary Philosophical Questions
The National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters recently drew the curtain on the activities of the “Oasis of Thought and Creativity” program, hosted by the Kuwait National Library over several days. The program presented a series of intellectual and literary lectures that brought together a select group of academics, researchers, and specialists, in a move aimed at revitalizing cultural activity, opening spaces for dialogue on issues of thought and literature, and strengthening the presence of serious culture in the Kuwaiti landscape. The program saw the attendance of numerous intellectuals, enthusiasts, and students, while its themes ranged across philosophy and literature through a scientific schedule that allowed the public to follow topics touching upon human thought and literary creativity, grounded in academic discourse and open dialogue.
The philosophical track occupied a significant portion of the program. Dr. Al-Zawawi Baghora delivered three consecutive lectures covering the evolution of philosophical thought from its origins. His first lecture, titled “History of Philosophy: From Myth to Reason,” was followed by “The Birth of Reason,” before he concluded his participation with a lecture on “Modern and Contemporary Philosophy,” highlighting the major transformations human thought has undergone throughout history. Dr. Abdullah Al-Jasimi also presented a lecture titled “An Introduction to the Philosophy of Beauty,” discussing fundamental concepts related to aesthetics and its relationship with art and human taste. Meanwhile, Dr. Muhammad Al-Sayed addressed the topics of “Critical Thinking” and “Ethics of Modern Science” in two separate lectures, emphasizing the importance of methodological thinking in interpreting contemporary knowledge and the ethical and intellectual questions posed by scientific progress.
In the same vein, Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Awadi discussed in his lecture, “Constructing the Self: The Question of the Good Life in Contemporary Philosophy,” the most prominent modern philosophical views on human construction and its relationship with values. Dr. Marzouq Al-Nisf concluded this track with a lecture titled “Philosophy: Skills, Not Subjects,” stressing the importance of philosophy as a tool for thinking and analysis that transcends academic specialization to encompass daily life.
As for the literary track, Dr. Mursal Al-Ajmi opened it with a lecture titled “An Introduction to Literary Criticism Theories,” in which he covered major critical schools and methods of textual reading. He then delivered a second lecture titled “The Birth of the Arab Novel,” outlining the emergence of the Arab novelistic art and its key historical milestones. Dr. Aisha Al-Shatti presented a lecture titled “World Literatures: A Window to Comparative Literature,” highlighting the importance of openness to human literatures and their role in broadening the horizons of reading and research. Writer Tawfeeq Al-Mutairi discussed the development and artistic and intellectual transformations of Arabic narrative in his lecture, “The Story and the Novel in Arabic Literature.”
Saleh Al-Ghazi addressed the reality of the publishing industry and the challenges facing authors and publishers amid the rapid transformations in the book sector in his lecture, “Between Creativity and Publishing: Reality and Ambition.” The program was concluded by a joint lecture titled “Printed Books and Publishing Challenges,” presented by Dr. Razan Al-Murshed and Abdulrahman Al-Mani’e, which examined the future of printed books in the digital age and the possibilities of coexistence between traditional publishing and electronic platforms.
Concurrently with the program, the Kuwait National Library hosted an exhibition of publications by the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters, featuring a collection of the latest intellectual and literary books, along with several cultural periodicals, notably the journals “Alam Al-Fikr” (World of Thought) and “Al-Thaqafa Al-Alamiya” (World Culture). This provided program visitors with the opportunity to review the latest publications the Council continues to contribute to the Arab library.
The “Oasis of Thought and Creativity” program opened the floor to a deep and diverse intellectual dialogue, which will undoubtedly contribute to developing cultural awareness and enhancing communication among thinkers, researchers, and the public.
