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

Articles in Press

Document Type : Scientific-research

Authors

1 PhD in Teaching of Islamic Theoretical Foundations, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

2 Full Professor،Department of Islamic Theoretical Foundations, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

3 Associate Professor،Department of Islamic Theoretical Foundations, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

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

The Mirror of Knowledge

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 28 April 2026

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