لماذا مؤتة؟ | Mamoun Ahram | TEDxUniversityofJordan

Quick Overview

The speaker argues that a successful civilization requires a foundation built on three core components: the human element, education, and time, drawing inspiration from the philosopher Malik Ibn Nabi's concept of "conditions of renaissance" and his own personal journey of overcoming failure and cultural differences through focused research and intentional action.

Key Points: The speaker introduces Malik Ibn Nabi's formula for civilization: Human + Education + Time = Civilization. He shares a personal anecdote about feeling like the "black duck" (different) after returning from America to Jordan, struggling to communicate with peers who studied engineering, medicine, or business. His initial research focus was on cancer biology (Hormones in Prostate Cancer), but he later shifted to broader societal research after being inspired by Ibn Nabi's work on the 'Conditions of Renaissance'. The speaker emphasizes that failure is an integral companion to scientific research, noting that success is impossible without it, echoing John Strummer's sentiment. He describes his personal growth from feeling isolated to actively working on research ethics in the Arab region and subsequently becoming a faculty member at Mutah University. The ultimate goal, derived from the Quranic verse 'And that man shall have nothing but what he strives for,' is to build civilization by striving together. He concludes by stressing the need for a solid, logical foundation ('Plan B' like R, E, S, E, A, R, C, H) to achieve this civilization.

Context: This TEDx talk by Mamoun Ahram at the University of Jordan explores the philosophical and practical requirements for building a successful civilization, heavily referencing the ideas of Algerian philosopher Malik Ibn Nabi. The speaker weaves in personal experiences—from studying Microbiology in the US to feeling culturally isolated upon returning to Jordan—to illustrate the importance of intentional effort, embracing failure, and focusing on foundational elements like human character, education, and time.