Isma'eel Mazhar (1891-1962), one of the leaders of contemporary scientific renaissance in Egypt and the Arabic world.

His life

Isma'eel Mazhar was born in a wealthy family received his studies in Egypt and England. He devoted his life to the question of Arabic renaissance and believed that such an aim can be achieved through believing in science. On 1929 he called for social reform and proposed the foundation of a new party for peasants. He received a hostile response from the existing ruling parties and was accused by being a communist and an agent for the Soviet Union.

 On 1927 he issued a magazine called "The generations" (Al'Osour in Arabic) which was devoted to promote intellectual live and culture in science, politics and literature. The magazine has exhibited a wide attention in the intellectual arena in which many well known intellectuals has been writing. However, His magazine has been closed on 1931 due to the worldwide economic crisis at that time, hence, he continued his intellectual life translating and advocating the social reform.

His Thought

Isma'eel Mazhar has been affected by the thoughts of Salama Mousa especially after reading his book about Darwin's theory of evolution. His position at that time was essentially western; he advocated following the modernist secular views and was interpreted as a defendant of atheism. However his late writings express some deviations in his position viewing Islam as a cultural identity that should be preserved, some interpretations view his position as defending Islam.

His works

·         Renovation of Arabic language in order to be sufficient for sciences and arts.

·         Between science and religion: the history of their contend in middle ages  about the sciences of astronomy, geography and creation.

·         In literature and life.

·         The story of the overflow in three ancient civilizations.

·         The history of Arabic thought.

·         A treatise in free thought.

·         The philosophy of pleasure and pain.