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A Critical Analysis of Sartre’s Theory of Human Nature and an Explanation of the Qur’anic Perspective

    Authors

    1 PhD Candidate, Department of Quranic and Hadith Sciences, Faculty of Quran and Hadith, International University of Islamic Denominations, Tehran, Iran

    2 Assistant Professor, Department of Quran and Hadith, Faculty of Quran and Hadith, International University of Islamic Denominations, Tehran, Iran

    3 Assistant Professor, Department of Islamic Philosophy and Mysticism, Faculty of Religions and Islamic Teachings, International University of Islamic Denominations, Tehran, Iran

,

Document Type : Research

Abstract

The question of human nature constitutes one of the most fundamental topics in anthropology and the humanities. Jean-Paul Sartre, within the framework of atheistic existentialism, denies any fixed essence for the human being and emphasizes human self-creation and absolute free will. The present research aims to provide a rational analysis and critique of Sartre’s view concerning the “denial of human nature” and to explain its consequences based on the principles of Islamic anthropology. Employing a descriptive-analytical method and library-based data collection, this study examines the challenges of this approach in the domains of epistemology, ethics, and ontology. The findings indicate that the denial of human nature conflicts with the foundations of Islamic anthropology, is incompatible with psychological and sociological realities, and faces serious challenges in the fields of epistemology, ethics, anthropology, and ontology. Furthermore, the negation of human nature entails negative consequences such as nihilism, existential anxiety, and moral relativism, leading to the reduction of human perfection and the neglect of the spiritual dimensions of human existence. In contrast, Islamic anthropology, relying on the concept of Fiṭrah (primordial nature), while safeguarding human freedom, provides a teleological framework for explaining innate human tendencies that prevents the crisis of meaning and moral relativism, and offers a foundation for the indigenization of the human sciences.

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References
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Islamic Philosophical Doctrines
Volume 20, Issue 36 - Serial Number 36
June 2025
Pages 191-224
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