The Mirror of Knowledge

The Mirror of Knowledge

The Meaning of Life in the Ontological Horizon: A Comparative Study of Spinoza and Allameh Tabatabaʾi

Document Type : Scientific-research

Authors
hassan karami mohamadabadi 1
ali asgariyazdi 2
seyed mojtaba mirdamadi 2
1 Ph.D. in Teaching Theoretical Foundations of Islam, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
2 Faculty of Islamic Studies and Thought, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
10.48308/jipt.2026.243173.1737
Abstract
The crisis of meaning in the contemporary world is rooted more in the disconnect between individual consciousness and ontological order than in biological challenges. This comparative study examines the philosophical systems of Baruch Spinoza and Allameh Tabatabai as two distinct responses to this crisis. Findings indicate that while both thinkers agree on the necessity of overcoming “ignorance of one’s position” to achieve meaning, their proposed paths lead to distinct horizons. Emphasizing immanent necessity and the dissolution of individuality in the “intellectual love of God,” Spinoza portrays a static meaning based on accepting nature’s governing necessity. In contrast, relying on the graded unity of existence and transubstantial motion, Tabatabai views meaning as a process of “becoming” and active perfection toward the Absolute Truth. This article’s innovation lies in proposing the “active acceptance” model; a paradigm where the tranquility derived from understanding Spinozan necessity serves not as an endpoint, but as an infrastructure for the perfectionist passion and movement toward the divine encounter in Tabatabai’s thought. This synthesis provides a comprehensive alternative for modern humanity to establish a meaningful balance between the determinism of laws and the desire for transcendence.
Keywords
Meaning of Life
Metaphysical Necessity
Substantial Motion
Spinoza
Allameh Tabatabaʾi
The Holy Qur’an.
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