Avner Ben-Zaken

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Avner Ben-Zaken, born on September 26, 1967, is an Israeli historian of science. He teaches at Ono College and is the co-founder and chair of The Institute for Israeli Thought.

Avner Ben-Zaken was born and raised in Be'er Sheva, Israel. His parents immigrated to Israel from Morocco. He completed his undergraduate studies in history and the history of the Middle East at the Hebrew University. Later, he earned his doctorate with honors in the history of science from UCLA in the United States. In 2003, he received the Nathan Reingold Prize from the Society for the History of Science (HSS). Currently, he serves as the head of an esteemed honors program at Ono Academic College. Additionally, he is a co-founder and the current chair of The Institute for Israeli Thought.

In the years 2004-2008 he was elected as a fellow to the Society of Fellows at Harvard University. תבנית:Refn

Since 2009 he has been active in the political arena, promoting a civil agenda based on structural reforms in the state apparatus, such as shifting the electoral system to district electoral system and drafting a constitution for Israel. תבנית:Refn

In 2020, co-founder and head of the Institute for Israeli Thought .

Ben-Zakan is married and father of three girls. Lives in Kfar Saba .

His research-academic activity

Ben-Zakan is a pioneer in the field of cross-cultural history of science. His research examines how science transcends cultural boundaries, arguing that both general cultural production and specific scientific innovation occur in areas where cultural margins overlap. This overlap allows for free and random exchanges of information, objects, and cultural norms without the influence of power dynamics. These exchanges provoke epistemological challenges that move from marginalized groups to the cultural center, often resulting in scientific revolutions. In his most recent books, Ben-Zakan explores cross-cultural scientific exchanges between Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean during the early modern period.

Cross-Cultural Scientific Exchanges in the Eastern Mediterranean 1560-1660

In this book, Ben-Zakan explores the exchange of scientific knowledge between cultures during the early modern period. Through five detailed case studies, the author examines how specific scientific objects and texts migrated across cultures, uncovering the complex pathways through which scientific knowledge was shared. A central focus is the dissemination of Copernican cosmology and related discoveries to the eastern Mediterranean, where local astronomers adapted, expanded upon, and applied these ideas. Employing a micro-historical approach, the book meticulously tracks the origins of certain devices and texts, who used them, how they were transmitted, and their impacts. It highlights that local cultures not only benefited from adopting new scientific insights but that ancient scientific knowledge also played a crucial role in updating and validating discoveries related to the heliocentric model of the universe. The book's main argument is that science during the early modern period did not develop in isolated or linear paths, with each culture solely focused on its internal meanings. Instead, it evolved through exchanging new ideas and objects that emerged from interactions at cultural peripheries. Ben-Zakan contends that Thomas Kuhn's "paradigmatic and cultural incommensurability" concept should be replaced with a more fluid and dialogical perspective. This perspective emphasizes cultural margins as the spaces where "normal science" is first challenged and where new paradigms emerge. In conclusion, Ben-Zakan asserts that scientific revolutions often originate in the margins of cultures, while their culmination typically occurs in cultural centers.

Reading Hayy Ibn-Yaqzan: Cross-Cultural History of Autodidacticism

In this book, Ben-Zakan investigates how a fundamental concept of modernity—autodidacticism—was shaped through cross-cultural exchanges. He argues that the most effective way to write a cross-cultural history of "modernity" is to examine how essential modern concepts, such as autodidacticism, evolved through these transitions. To illustrate this, he focuses on the philosophical treatise advocating for self-study, titled "Ḥayy Ibn-Yaqṭān," written by Ibn Tufayl. This essay tells the story of a child who is spontaneously created and lives on a deserted island. Without parents, teachers, books, or language, the child employs trial and error to uncover the laws of physics, astronomy, and the principles of Aristotelian metaphysics. Translated during the Enlightenment under titles like "The Self-taught Philosopher" and "On the Improvement of Human Reason," this essay sparked debates regarding the possibility of acquiring first-hand knowledge and the scientific validity of such knowledge. The book traces the migration of the text into early modern Europe and illustrates the complex ways in which autodidacticism was either embraced or rejected in various cultural contexts. It emphasizes the significant role that philosophical works played in four distinct and disconnected historical moments. Furthermore, the book reveals that appeals for autodidacticism resonated not only within philosophical circles but were also driven by broader struggles over control between individuals and institutions. The intricate migration, circulation, and reception of "Ḥayy Ibn-Yaqṭān" exemplify the evolution of social and individual control. In 12th-century Marrakesh, Ibn Tufayl sought to temper the unchecked religious fervor of mystics by subjecting them to philosophical scrutiny. In 14th-century Barcelona, Narbonni called for the liberation of adolescents from communal constraints, encouraging a disciplined life of solitude. In 15th-century Florence, Pico della Mirandola challenged the spiritual limitations imposed by divine authority, grounding humanity in the physical reality of nature. Sixteenth-century utopian and scientific societies defied institutional discipline yet promoted a lifestyle of restraint and at times, asceticism. By the 17th century, experimentalists liberated humanity from metaphysics and developed frameworks of knowledge that emphasized self-discovery through empirical facts and personal credibility. These various historical connections are intertwined, reflecting a shift in social control from institutions to individuals. This evolution contributed to the emergence of the “modern man,” characterized as a solitary, self-controlled individual who uses reason to anticipate the outcomes of his actions. The rejection of traditional authorities did not lead to chaos or complete freedom; instead, it resulted in the internalization of institutional mechanisms of control. Autodidacticism, therefore, did not signify a loss of control but rather highlighted the necessity for self-control. It shifted the mechanisms of control from society to the individual, replacing history, tradition, and metaphysics with nature, reason, and natural instincts as the ultimate sources of knowledge.

Communism as cultural imperialism - the relationship between Palestine Communism and Arab Communism 1919-1948 [Hebrew]

In this book, Ben-Zakan explores whether communism is primarily seen as a political ideology or as a cultural phenomenon. To address this issue, he examines the development of the communist movement in the Middle East from 1919 to 1948 through an intercultural lens. He reveals the cultural tensions that existed between Palestinian communists, who were often influenced by European ideas, and local communists, both Arab and Jewish. Notably, Ben-Zakan demonstrates for the first time that Marxist discourse was frequently viewed as a form of cultural imperialism. This perception arose not only from personal or cultural differences but was significantly shaped by how Marxist discourse was portrayed. It was presented not merely as a product of European culture and history, but as "scientific" and "objective," thereby claiming universal authority. This idea of the "scientific-objective truth" of Marxism fostered a strong conviction among Palestinian communists. They believed it was possible to bridge cultural gaps, spread Marxism, and transform local culture and society. However, this belief, along with various complex factors, created a seemingly contradictory situation in retrospect. Palestinian communists regulated the local Marxist discourse while also establishing, routing, and organizing communist parties in the Middle East. However, the political culture was far from harmonious. By examining the mechanisms of ideology and the Marxist movement, the book illustrates that cultural interactions often evoke feelings of foreignness, leading to opposing directions. Thus, the central argument of the book is that universal concepts, whether scientific or ethical, are not necessarily perceived as culturally neutral.

his books

• Ben-Zaken, Avner., Reading "Ḥayy Ibn-Yaqẓān" : a cross-cultural history of autodidacticism, The Johns Hopkins University Press, cop. 2011, ISBN 978-0-8018-9739-9
• Ben-Zaken, Avner., Cross-cultural scientific exchanges in the eastern Mediterranean, 1560-1660, Johns Hopkins University Press, 2010, ISBN 0-8018-9992-3
• בן זקן, אבנר, היסטוריון של מדע, קומוניזם כאימפריאליזם תרבותי : הזיקה בין הקומוניזם הארצישראלי לקומוניזם הערבי, 1948-1919, רסלינג, 2006

marginal notes

[[קטגוריה:Academic staff of Ono Academic College]] [[קטגוריה:Hebrew University of Jerusalem alumni]] [[קטגוריה:Israeli historians]] [[קטגוריה:History of science]] [[קטגוריה:Harvard]] [[קטגוריה:UCLA]] [[קטגוריה:Institute for Israeli Thought]] [[קטגוריה:דפים עם תרגומים שלא נסקרו]]

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