Philosopher Sandel says Saudi reforms need critical thinking to succeed
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[December 11, 2021]
By Aziz El Yaakoubi
DUBAI (Reuters) - Saudi authorities'
willingness to promote critical thinking will determine if a reform
drive launched there succeeds, American political philosopher Michael
Sandel said after participating in the ultra-conservative kingdom's
first-ever philosophy conference.
Sandel, a Harvard University professor described by the Times Literary
Supplement as the "most important and influential living philosopher",
spoke to Reuters after discussing notions of morality, justice and
universal duty with Saudi students.
Philosophy is not taught in Saudi universities and had been considered
heretical thinking there for decades.
"Engaging in philosophical discussions, especially in circumstances such
as these, is a challenging, even a risky undertaking. I felt it was a
risk worth taking," Sandel said on Friday in an online interview.
The conference was part of a charm offensive by Saudi Crown Prince
Mohammed bin Salman, who is seeking to revive a reputation damaged by a
poor human rights record, the war in Yemen and the killing of dissident
Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the kingdom's Istanbul consulate in
2018.
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Sandel said it was hard to predict what the ultimate course of the
prince's "experiment" would be.
"But promoting critical thinking, I think, is at least worth trying," he
said, adding that Saudi Arabia's younger generation seemed hungry to
engage in philosophical discussions.
"I want to encourage it, even while recognising that there is a certain
risk and unpredictability to the course it may eventually kick."
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![](../images/121121pics/news_t67.jpg)
U.S philosophy professor Michael J. Sandel receives the 2018
Princess of Asturias award for Social Sciences from Spain's King
Felipe, in Oviedo, Spain October 19, 2018. REUTERS/Vincent West
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Prince Mohammed, known as MbS, is de facto ruler of the kingdom, the
world’s top oil exporter and a key U.S. ally. He has moved over the
past five years to consolidate power and sidelined rivals and
detained hundreds of clerics, journalists, royals and activists.
While many significant controls remain, authorities have eased the
guardianship system, which gives men significant control over the
lives of their female relatives, and lifted a ban on women driving.
The kingdom also opened up for cinemas, concerts and tourism in a
bid to diversify the economy away from oil.
Sandel said it was too early to draw conclusions about the
motivation behind the reform drive.
"Is this a genuine opening for philosophy and critical thinking? Or
is it simply for... PR? I'm not sure. Only time will tell," he said.
"All I can say is I think that if there is a possibility of
encouraging philosophy and critical thinking in Saudi Arabia, that's
a possibility worth exploring."
(Reporting by Aziz El Yaakoubi; editing by John Stonestreet)
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