Help Required - Evolutionary Theory by Ibn-i-Khaldun

[Occult]

Assalam o Alaikum and Hello,

I have been trying to figure out how to write a detailed note on Ibn - i - Khaldun's "Evolutionary Theory" as warranted by a question in the 2011 paper of Sociology "Write a note in detail on "Evolutionary Theory" given by Ibn-i-Khaldun", but have had no success in finding an elaborate and detailed piece which critically evaluates the theory itself and instead, all I have come up with are excerpts from the actual theory.

Before directing my query towards any other Thread on this forum, I would like to mention that Ibn-i-Khaldun's Evolutionary Theory is different from his theory of Social Solidarity (Assabiyah) which is incorrectly mentioned in this thread HERE and in Taga's book.

Also, two of the links provided by a user HERE are broken and do not produce relevant results.

The excerpt of his Evolutionary theory can be found HERE on Wikipedia, which begins as One should then look at the world of creation. It started out from the minerals and progressed, in an ingenious, gradual manner, to plants and animals......

What I need to know is that how relevant is Assabiyah to Khaldun's views on Evolution as I fail to correlate the two. Furthermore, what do different teachers of Sociology have to say about his Evolutionary Theory and if there's indeed a difference, how am I supposed to write a note on his theory of Evolution?

Please help me better understand the issue by providing any valuable information (notes, comments, etc.) regarding my query.

[Occult]

Admins, Mods, Anyone? Where are you guys?

[marwatone]

Not replying may mean many things including: no one knows the answer to your query or no one has seen it yet. Have patience, you'll get a reply.

[sundas88]

can anyone answer this query??

[Syeda Irum]

Yes, these both are inter-related..... You have to explain the khaldon's concept of evolution and then correlate it with the concept of asabiyah: as for example, "if there is no Asabiyah, no state exist and if no state exist then how can you define the cycle of it's decline, which is in actual evolution"
Actually I have opted political sci and explained from that side, as this concept is also mentioned there.. Hope so it may help

[Glorious King]

Originally Posted by Occult

Assalam o Alaikum and Hello,

I have been trying to figure out how to write a detailed note on Ibn - i - Khaldun's "Evolutionary Theory" as warranted by a question in the 2011 paper of Sociology "Write a note in detail on "Evolutionary Theory" given by Ibn-i-Khaldun", but have had no success in finding an elaborate and detailed piece which critically evaluates the theory itself and instead, all I have come up with are excerpts from the actual theory.

Before directing my query towards any other Thread on this forum, I would like to mention that Ibn-i-Khaldun's Evolutionary Theory is different from his theory of Social Solidarity (Assabiyah) which is incorrectly mentioned in this thread HERE and in Taga's book.

Also, two of the links provided by a user HERE are broken and do not produce relevant results.

The excerpt of his Evolutionary theory can be found HERE on Wikipedia, which begins as One should then look at the world of creation. It started out from the minerals and progressed, in an ingenious, gradual manner, to plants and animals......

What I need to know is that how relevant is Assabiyah to Khaldun's views on Evolution as I fail to correlate the two. Furthermore, what do different teachers of Sociology have to say about his Evolutionary Theory and if there's indeed a difference, how am I supposed to write a note on his theory of Evolution?

Please help me better understand the issue by providing any valuable information (notes, comments, etc.) regarding my query.

Ibn-Khaldun (732-808/1332-1406)
Ibn-Khaldun has described the process of evolution like other
philosophers. According to him, the world of creation started out from
14
the minerals and progressed, in an ingenious, gradual manner, to
plants and animals. The last stage of minerals is connected with the
first stage of plants, such as herbs and seedless plants. The last stage
of plants, such as palms and vines, is connected with the first stage of
animals, such as snails and shellfish which have only the power of
touch. The word "Connection" with regard to these created things
means that the last stage of each group is fully prepared to become the
first stage of the next group.
The animal world then widens, its species become numerous,
and, in a gradual process of creation, it finally leads to man, who is
able to think and to reflect. The higher stage of man is reached from
the world of the monkeys, in which both sagacity and perception are
found, but which has not reached the stage of actual reflection and
thinking. At this stage we come to the first stage of man after (the
world of monkeys). This is as far as our (physical) observation
extends (46).
At another place Ibn Khaldun has given the detail of his
evolutionary ideas. He has tried to explain links between inorganic
matter, plants, animals and man. He thinks that the whole of existence
in (all) its simple and composite worlds are arranged in a gradual
order of ascent and descent, so that everything constitutes an
uninterrupted continuum. The essence at the end of each particular
stage of the worlds is by nature prepared to be transformed into the
essence adjacent to them, either above or below them. This is the case
with simple material elements; it is the case with palms and vines,
(which constitutes) the last stage of plants, in their relation to snails
and shellfish, (which constitute) the (lowest) stage of animals. It is
also the case with monkeys, creatures combining in themselves
cleverness and perception, in their relation to man, the being who has
the ability to think and to reflect. The preparedness for
(transformation) that exists on either side, at each stage of the worlds,
is meant when (we speak about) their connection.
Above the human world, there is a spiritual world. It is known
to us by its influence upon us, in that it gives us the powers of
perception and volition. The essences of that spiritual world are pure
perception and absolute intellection. It is the worlds of the angels.
It follows from all this that human soul must be prepared to
exchange humanity for angelicity, in order actually to become part of
the angelic species at any time, in a single instant. It will afterwards
resume its humanity (47).


I found this little piece of writing after a long search in books.
This is 18 pages Research Article and the name is "Pre-Darwinian Muslim Scholars’ Views on Evolution " by DR MUHAMMAD SULTAN SHAH

I hope it will help the aspirants. I am Sorry for the Unarranged format of the paras.Thanks