Dean of Humanities Highlights the Urgency of Change and Continuity in Academic Discourse

HUMANIORA - (20/10/2023) In the opening of the International Scholar’s Engagement event on Thursday, October 19, 2023, Dr. M. Faisol, the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, emphasized the significance of the theme presented, ecohumanism in the development of human life. He stressed that the advancement of science and technology would shape human perspectives on themselves and their surroundings.

In his address, M. Faisol mentioned that humans often become too self-centered, forgetting that their actions have significant impacts on the environment. "When we reach this stage, ecological crises occur," he stated.

Furthermore, the native of Gresik highlighted that the meaning of life doesn't always have to be related to humans themselves. According to him, wisdom and knowledge can be found not only from humans but also from entities beyond humans. Therefore, ecohumanism is a way for humans to understand and contribute to their environment.

"In this context, ecohumanism becomes a crucial part of how humans can actively play a role in understanding and caring for their environment," he added.

In his concluding remarks, M. Faisol emphasized the importance of continuously examining the scholarly treasures, especially in the fields of literature and the humanities, using a contemporary perspective.

In his view, classic works like "Kitab al-Bukhola" by Al-Jahidz, which discusses human behavior through metaphors and analogies using the character "Dika," should be reevaluated from a contemporary perspective. This is aimed at ensuring that the continuity and changes in human understanding of knowledge are continually updated.

"Scientific research must continue to comprehend continuity and change and to construct a dynamic academic discourse," he concluded. [al]