A Critique of Methodological Criticism among the Arabs: A Descriptive-Analytical Study of Muhammad Mandur's Critical Thought

Abstract

This study examines Mohammed Mandour’s book Methodological Criticism among the Arabs, with particular attention to his historiographical approach to Arabic literary criticism. The research highlights the significance of this early contribution to the historiography of Arabic criticism and its awareness of methodological concerns. It also explores Mandour’s engagement with Western critical frameworks and his efforts to reconcile them with the specificities of Arab culture. Using a descriptive-analytical method, the paper identifies the major issues raised by Mandour’s approach and seeks to answer two key questions: What characterizes his historical perspective on ancient Arabic criticism? And what critical problems does this perspective reveal?