David Rajulkahf
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David Rajulkahf | |
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دافيد رجل الكهف | |
 David Rajulkahf in Sweden, 2020 | |
| Born | Mohammed Mayan Al‑Sawwaf July 11, 1986 |
| Died | March 17, 2022 (aged 35) |
| Nationality | Syrian |
| Other names | Yaman; David; Cave Man |
| Education | Tishreen University (B.A. in Economics) Linköping University (M.A. in Philosophy) |
| Occupation(s) | Philosopher; writer; researcher; YouTuber; mental health advocate |
| Notable work |
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| Spouse | Childhood friend (m. 2010; div. 2015) |
| Children | 1 son (Danny) |
| Website | liu-se |
 | This article may incorporate text from a large language model. (July 2025) |
David Rajulkahf born as Mohammed Mayan Al‑Sawwaf; (11 July 1986 – 17 March 2022) was a Syrian philosopher, writer, researcher, and YouTuber. He gained recognition for his critical perspectives on religion, ethics, and mental health, and for making complex philosophical ideas accessible in the Arabic-speaking world.[citation needed]
Early life
[edit]Rajulkahf was born on 11 July 1986 in Damascus and raised in a Sunni Muslim family in the Al‑Amara district. He memorized nearly half of the Quran as a child.[1] He first expressed philosophical doubt during his adolescence.
Online activities and ideological development
[edit]In the early 2000s, after Syria gained broader Internet access, he joined online forums, including the “Arab Non-Religious Forum” and “Arab Atheists Network,” initially using pseudonyms and later adopting the name “David.” He engaged in critical studies of the Quran and the Bible, influenced by Arab and Western philosophers.
Migration and education
[edit]In 2005, Rajulkahf left Syria, living in Dubai and Malaysia before settling in Sweden in 2015. He legally adopted the name David Rajulkahf and received a master's degree in philosophy from Linköping University, with emphasis on ethics and social philosophy.
YouTube outreach
[edit]Rajulkahf founded the "David Rajulkahf" YouTube channel, publishing hundreds of videos on philosophical, psychological, ethical, and religious subjects. He emphasized respectful debate, barring hate speech, and promoted critical thinking alongside the belief that “no idea is sacred.”
Philosophical contributions
[edit]He coined several frameworks:
- **Trinity of Oppression** – religion, politics, and economics as interconnected systems of control
- **Tower of Human Knowledge** – a model for layered intellectual progression
- **Fairnessism** – an ethical theory advancing fairness in contexts such as animal rights and migration
He also identified as an antinatalist, asexual, vegan, and opposed traditional marriage. He cited his divorce in 2015 and his son, Danny, as personal influences reflected in his writing.
Mental health advocacy
[edit]Rajulkahf publicly acknowledged diagnoses of bipolar disorder and obsessive‑compulsive personality disorder (OCPD), positioning his mental health openly to reduce stigma and emphasize rational discourse.
Personal life
[edit]He married his childhood friend in 2010; they had one son, Danny, and divorced in 2015. He attributed many of his writings to the reflections that fatherhood prompted.
Death
[edit]Rajulkahf died suddenly on 17 March 2022 in Stockholm at age 35. According to those close to him, his death resulted from a heart attack; suicide was ruled out.
Legacy
[edit]His work remains in use among student groups, philosophy circles, and Syrian immigrant communities as well as other immigrant communities. Rajulkahf is recognized for fostering cross-cultural dialogue and for encouraging critical, respectful questioning of ideas.
Selected works
[edit]- Dialogue with the Cave Man: What is an Intellectual? (2018)
- Dialogue with the Cave Man: Personality Disorders (2020)
- Essays on Ethics (2020)
- I Will Disconnect My Brain (2020)
References
[edit]- ^ ظاهرة دافيد رجل الكهف at Academia.edu (accessed 2 July 2025)