De paidéuma à la shari`a

Abstract

Abstract. “From Paideuma to Shari’a”. Paideuma, concept developed by Leo Frobenius at the beginning of the XXth century, seems to regain its proper actuality when we try to understand the Islamic civilization. Among the roots which define a paideuma, in the particular case of Islam we identified the shari’a as being the most significant one. Shari`a also brings with it a new dimension: the continuous extension of the paideuma, which overpasses frontiers and national identities. The famous sartrian expression “hell is the other” may occur only if we don`t know the Other enough. Keywords: Paideuma; Shari`a; Cultural identity; Civilization; Islam, Qur’an; Ijtihad,; Fundamentalists; Fuqaha, Muslim Brothers; `Umma; Cultural roots.