History of Islamic Philosophy

History of Islamic Philosophy

Analysis of the philosophical foundations of the meaning of life in the philosophy of Allameh Tabataba'i and some contemporary Western thinkers (Jaspers, Frankl, and Taylor)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
zinab darvishi 1
marzieh amri 2
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Islamic Studies, Ahv.C., Islamic Azad University,Ahvaz, Iran.
2 Department of Philosophy and Islamic Theology, Qom Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qom, Iran
10.22034/hpi.2026.588185.1213
Abstract
This study, "An Analysis of the Philosophical Foundations of the Meaning of Life in the Philosophy of Allameh Tabatabai and Some Contemporary Western Thinkers: Jaspers, Frankl, and Taylor," explores whether a synthetic model of life's meaning can emerge from dialogue between two distinct traditions: the ontological approach of Transcendent Theosophy—grounded in the principiality of existence, gradation of existence, and substantial motion in Allameh Tabatabai's philosophy—and the existential, interpretive, human-centered approach of contemporary Western philosophy. The central question is whether interaction between these two horizons can yield a comprehensive model of meaning that remains faithful to its metaphysical, truth-oriented dimension while also honoring humanity's lived, historical experience. The main hypothesis holds that for Allameh Tabatabai, meaning is rooted in the human being's existential relation to Absolute Truth and the divine realm, giving it an ontological and innate foundation; whereas for Jaspers, Frankl, and Taylor, within existentialist and hermeneutic frameworks, meaning formation depends more on consciousness, individual experience, and cultural context. Using an analytical-comparative method, the findings suggest that combining these approaches yields a more coherent model in which meaning arises not merely from mind or culture, but from the connection between existential truth and human experience.
Keywords
Allameh Tabataba'
i, the meaning of life, the originality of existence, the movement of substance. Jaspers, Frankl, Taylor
Subjects
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History of Islamic Philosophy
Volume 5, Issue 19
Autumn 2026
Pages 163-191

  • Receive Date 22 June 2026
  • Revise Date 19 August 2026
  • Accept Date 19 August 2026