Tayyeb Tizini

Tayeb Tizini (August 10, 1934 - May 18, 2019) is a Syrian philosopher^[1] born in the city of Homs, a supporter of Marxist nationalist thought. He relies on the historical dialectic in his philosophical project to re-read Arab thought since before Islam until now. He died at the age of 85 after Struggle with disease in his city, Homs.^[2][3]

Life[]

In his 1976 Min al-turath ila al-thawra (From tradition to revolution) he hoped for a Marxist revolution.^[4]

Tizini's 2001 critique of the Damascus Spring, Min thulathiyyat al-fasad ila qadaya al-mujtama' al-madani (From the trilogy of corruption to issues of civil society), argued that reform of the state was needed, rather than putting excessive hope in civil society. He nevertheless signed the 2005 Damascus Declaration and the 2006 Beirut-Damascus Declaration. His own 2005 manifesto, Bayan fi al-nahda wa al-tanwir al-arabi (Between the renaissance and the Arab enlightenment), called for a new nahda (renaissance) and tanwir (enligntenment).^[4]

After demonstrating to demand the release of political prisoners at the start of the Syrian uprising in March 2011, he was beaten and briefly held by the state security forces. In October 2011 he participated in the national conference convened by the regime in Damascus. He listed five demands as a precondition for national dialogue: no firing at fellow Syrians; release of political prisoners; applying the rule of law; abandoning the security state; and reconstructing the media for a real national debate.^[4]

He died in Homs on May 17, 2019.^[5]

References[]

External links[]

• Tayyeb Tizini: Syria's Foremost Thinker