Scientific Inquiry Is a Keystone of Western Civilization

Scientific and technological advancements do not happen in a vacuum, but rather are the direct result of a free society.

My natural personality does not take special joy in pointing out errors. But my experiences as a girl raised in Islamic societies before escaping to Western ones has given me great impetus to speak where necessary—and it certainly has proved necessary to protect the values undergirding Western civilization. That is why I publicly rebutted conservative Tucker Carlson’s recent admiring remarks on Sharia law and Islamic identity. While there is something positive about nearly every culture, we must never be lulled into painting an incomplete picture of Islam, including how its longstanding oppressive practices must be halted before spreading further.

What I’m Thinking About

Instead of welcoming critique, questions and, curiosity, Islamic cultures usually discourage dissent, individuality, or doubts. Such a “tight” everyday culture often transfers to other areas, including scientific inquiry. That’s how you know something is built upon a shaky foundation—because the truth can stand on its own feet and doesn’t require protection from challenges. Western nations were built not only on individual freedoms, but on intellectual curiosity. Were this bedrock value nonexistent, Western-based scientists never would have discovered germ theory, man-made flight, or the cause of diabetes. Yet the COVID tyranny demonstrated that modern Westerners have forgotten about that curiosity-driven heritage, instead eagerly punishing anyone who disagreed or even questioned the official party line on origin and transmission.