| Departure of Egyptian Thinker Fouad Zakaria |
 Dr. Fouad Zakaria, a prominent Egyptian thinker, died on Friday, March 13th, 2010 at the age of 83 after a full academic and intellectual life that lasted over half a century. Over these 50 odd years, the late Dr. Zakaria enriched the Arabic library with numerous books – some of which he authored and some of which he translated. He fought fierce battles with symbols of the Islamic movement, as well as with Nasiriyah symbols despite belonging to the left.
Fouad Zakaria's work was published in several periodicals, and included numerous articles and studies addressing intellectual and social issues, criticizing prevailing thought in the Arab world in general, and the Egyptian society in particular.
He believed that Western cultural invasion is a mere myth. He continually exhibited his enmity to the Islamic Salafi approach, mocking contemporary Islamic trends committed to this approach, and claiming that this commitment focuses on adherence to the appearance of Islam rather than its substance; a claim which prompted charges of atheism against him. He received several accolades including the Al Owais Humanitarian and Futuristic Studies Award (2nd Session), the State Incentive Award of Egypt, and the Kuwait Prize for the Advancement of Science.
Fouad Zakariya, who was born in 1927, was a professor and head of the Philosophy Department at Ain Shams University in Port Said in Egypt until 1974. He moved in the same year to Kuwait to head the department of philosophy at the Kuwait University until 1991. He became the editor of "Modern Thought" and "Heritage of Humanity" magazines. He also worked as a consultant for Culture Affairs and Human Sciences at the National Commission for UNESCO in Cairo, and served as Editorial Advisor for Kuwait's series "World Knowledge".
His published works included: Nietzsche; The Theory of Knowledge and Mankind's Natural Position; Espinosa; Mankind and Civilization; Musical Expression; The Challenges of Thought and Culture; A study of Plato's Republic; A Critical Review of the Challenges of Thought and Culture; Scientific Thinking; A Letter to the Arab Mind; and Truth and Illusion in Contemporary Islamic Movement." |
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