Lim Ren Chong
Abstract
The Islamic world in the period between 132AH/750AD – 655AH/1258AD is marked by technological advancements stemming from the ability of its community to preserve, adapt and build on already existing knowledge assimilated from others. There was a culture highly creative in its approach to driving technological progress, which led to the development of valuable innovations and the accumulation of vast wealth. More importantly, these innovations enabled the community to achieve the Maqāṣid. Leadership, stable rules of law, common trade rules, effective administration, and strong institutions are some of the ingredients giving rise to a culture of technological creativity. An often-underrated essential ingredient is the communication of information. Knowledge codified as information in patents, journal articles, and book chapters is only useful when it is efficiently communicated to individuals who can transform the information into innovations. During this golden age, there were many individuals involved with the delivery and exchange of information. Non Muslim members within the community-made notable contributions, particularly in translating non-Arabic scientific works into Arabic. Later generations of Muslim innovators made extensive use of these translated works which included insightful dialectical commentaries.
Keywords: Innovation culture, technological creativity, Islamic golden age, information communication, knowledge production
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