My name is Faycal Mallek, and I was born and raised in London, UK. I graduated from the University of Oxford with a BA in Philosophy and Theology in August of 2022. Through my undergraduate studies I developed a deep fascination with questions and problems surrounding ontology, existence and reality, and how they interlapped with my academic interest in Islamic philosophy. Discovering that there are very significant parallels between 20th century philosophical systems in both the Muslim World and Europe led me to centre my studies on their development and influence. My undergraduate thesis was primarily concerned with Persian metaphysics, 20th century South Asian philosophy and the nature of selfhood. My aim was to analyse key themes in Islamic politics as well as the develop of the modern Muslim self.
I intend to focus my time at Columbia and the LSE researching further into the intellectual developments of both Islamic and European metaphysical systems, with a significant focus on existence and the individual. My main focal point will be on South Asia’s blossoming modern philosophical traditions, and their immense influence in rejuvenating metaphysical enquiry throughout the entire Muslim world. Alongside this, I plan to research the intellectual strides taken by “Modernists” to reconcile notable aspects of European philosophy with Islamic thought. My intentions ultimately lie in seeking to understand and analyse the incredibly dynamic and constantly- changing world of Islamic philosophy.
Outside of my studies, I am incredibly passionate about making and performing music, reading and writing poetry and seeking out new adventures.
