The Civilization in the Thought of Mouloud Kacem Nait Belkacem from an Ethical and Religious Perspective

Abstract

The period from 1830 to 1962 marks a critical phase in the history of Algeria. This period was characterized by the French colonial campaign aimed at erasing the characteristics and principles of Algerian civilization and nation. This campaign began with the distortion and falsification of the foundations of the Algerian nation. All of these actions significantly contributed to the challenging path of the Algerian nation after the French colonial period, particularly as France, from the outset, worked on disintegrating the ethical and religious system of Algerian society, making it difficult for the nation to rebuild a civilized state with stable foundations after gaining independence. As a result, it can be said that Algerian intellectuals, whether during the colonial period or afterward, worked on reconstructing the Algerian nation according to the principles and values of civilization that align with the evolving trends in various countries around the world. This mission was taken up by the Algerian Mouloud Kacem Nait Belkacem, who sought to reframe these concepts and, through them, overcome the contemporary moral and ethical crisis faced by the Algerian people. Therefore, the focus of our research here is to explore the ethical and religious values and their significance in the process of building civilization in the thought of Mouloud Kacem Nait Belkacem. The central issue of our research revolves around: How can a civilizational foundation be achieved for the Algerian nation? Or, more precisely, can ethical and religious standards be considered the cornerstone of the cultural progress of the Algerian nation?