The Methodology of Ali Harb's Post-Structural Approach to Social Theory

This paper expounds the methodology of the social theory of Ali Harb, a Lebanese philosopher and iconoclast theorist. Using an analytical-documentary method and referring to the scientific and socio-political dimensions of Ali Harb’s life, the paper reviews the early origin of his thoughts. The paper studies Jacques Derrida, one of those who has influenced Harb's views about such questions like difference and signs. Reductional logic and circulating reason are among the important aspects which characterize of Harb’s scientific approach and which are strongly connected with his social theory. Originality of individual and community, cultural interaction, public opinion, role of elites, extremism and social reforms are among the aspects of Harb’s social theory which are the main topics of the paper. At the end, referring to the critical capacities of his views, it shows that there are some criticisms against his social theory.