Youssef Seddik (philosopher)
Encyclopedia
Youssef Seddik is a noted Tunisia
n philosopher and anthropologist specializing in Ancient Greece
and the anthropology of the Qur'an
.
in 1967 and obtained a DES in Philosophy and a degree in Ancient Greece.
From 1971 to 1977 he taught philosophy in secondary schools in Tunisia and at the University of Paris III: Sorbonne Nouvelle
, before becoming director of a publishing company specializing in books for young people between 1984 and 1987. He was also a reporter of the journal La Presse de Tunisie
between 1975 and 1983.
Based in Paris in 1988, he obtained a DEA in the Greek language and civilization from the University of Paris III: Sorbonne Nouvelle (1988) and a doctorate at the École des hautes études en sciences sociales
(1995). He lectured there and also in modern Islamic philosophy at the Sorbonne from 1995 to 1996.
Seddik has published many books and translations based on Ancient Greece and Islamic heritage, including works related to the Prophet Muhammad
, Imam Ali, and the Qur'an
. He also attempted to publish a Qur'an in the form of seven volumes of comics, but was halted after objections from the Tunisian religious authorities in 1992.
In 1999 he published a book entitled, Brins de chicane. La vie quotidienne à Bagdad au Xe siècle about daily life in Baghdad
in the tenth century.
His book, Nous n'avons jamais lu le Coran , released in September 2004 explores the language and symbols that are present in the Koran. In the book the author begins with the questioning of the politics of Islam and the role of God.
He also directed documentaries including a series of five episodes on Muhammad.
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
n philosopher and anthropologist specializing in Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece is a civilization belonging to a period of Greek history that lasted from the Archaic period of the 8th to 6th centuries BC to the end of antiquity. Immediately following this period was the beginning of the Early Middle Ages and the Byzantine era. Included in Ancient Greece is the...
and the anthropology of the Qur'an
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
.
Biography
In 1966, he obtained a master's degree in philosophy and a degree in French literature and civilization. During the next four years, he taught at the French school in CompiègneCompiègne
Compiègne is a city in northern France. It is designated municipally as a commune within the département of Oise.The city is located along the Oise River...
in 1967 and obtained a DES in Philosophy and a degree in Ancient Greece.
From 1971 to 1977 he taught philosophy in secondary schools in Tunisia and at the University of Paris III: Sorbonne Nouvelle
University of Paris III: Sorbonne Nouvelle
The New Sorbonne University is a public university in Paris, France.The Université de la Sorbonne Nouvelle is a founding member of the Paris Universitas, a union of 6 Parisian universities....
, before becoming director of a publishing company specializing in books for young people between 1984 and 1987. He was also a reporter of the journal La Presse de Tunisie
La Presse de Tunisie
La Presse, founded in 1936, is a large-circulation French-language daily newspaper published in Tunis, Tunisia. As a result of the 2010-2011 Tunisian protests, the newspaper transformed from being seen as propaganda for Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's government to having editorial independence from the...
between 1975 and 1983.
Based in Paris in 1988, he obtained a DEA in the Greek language and civilization from the University of Paris III: Sorbonne Nouvelle (1988) and a doctorate at the École des hautes études en sciences sociales
École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales
The École des hautes études en sciences sociales is a leading French institution for research and higher education, a Grand Établissement. Its mission is research and research training in the social sciences, including the relationship these latter maintain with the natural and life sciences...
(1995). He lectured there and also in modern Islamic philosophy at the Sorbonne from 1995 to 1996.
Seddik has published many books and translations based on Ancient Greece and Islamic heritage, including works related to the Prophet Muhammad
Muhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
, Imam Ali, and the Qur'an
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
. He also attempted to publish a Qur'an in the form of seven volumes of comics, but was halted after objections from the Tunisian religious authorities in 1992.
In 1999 he published a book entitled, Brins de chicane. La vie quotidienne à Bagdad au Xe siècle about daily life in Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
in the tenth century.
His book, Nous n'avons jamais lu le Coran , released in September 2004 explores the language and symbols that are present in the Koran. In the book the author begins with the questioning of the politics of Islam and the role of God.
He also directed documentaries including a series of five episodes on Muhammad.
Publications
- Brins de chicane. La vie quotidienne à Bagdad au Xe siècle, éd. Actes Sud, Arles, 1999
- Dits de l'imam Ali, éd. Actes Sud, Arles, 2000
- Le Coran : autre lecture, autre traduction, éd. de l'Aube, La Tour d'Aigues, 2002
- Dits du prophète Muhammad, éd. Actes Sud, Arles, 2002
- L'arrivant du soir : cet islam de lumière qui peine à devenir, éd. de l'Aube, La Tour d'Aigues, 2004
- Nous n'avons jamais lu le Coran, éd. de l'Aube, La Tour d'Aigues, 2004
- Qui sont les barbares ? : Itinéraire d'un penseur d'islam, éd. de l'Aube, La Tour d'Aigues, 2007