Document Type : Research
Author
Assistant Professor, Department of Islamic Studies, Damghan University
Abstract
he meaning of life is one of the most fundamental philosophical and psychological questions, referring to the purpose, value, and function of human life, and it plays a central role in an individual’s spiritual and psychological development. This study examines the foundations and components of the meaning of life in the thought of Mullā Ṣadrā and Viktor Frankl.
From the perspective of Transcendent Philosophy (al-Ḥikmah al-Mutaʿāliyah), Mullā Ṣadrā conceives the human being as a composite, dynamic entity engaged in substantial motion, who progresses beyond materiality and animal life toward intellectual and spiritual existence. The ultimate goal of human life in this view is nearness to God and annihilation in the Divine (fanāʾ fī Allāh). Within this framework, the value of life is contingent upon the intensity of existence and the immateriality of the soul, while the function of life is understood as a continuous process of realizing perfection and attaining spiritual elevation.
Viktor Frankl, psychiatrist and founder of logotherapy, presents the human being as a free and responsible agent capable of discovering meaning and purpose through choice, responsibility, and meaningful life experiences. For Frankl, the value of life is grounded in the quality of human actualization, and its function lies in existential growth, resilience, and spiritual development.
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