Author
Assistant Professor, Department of Islamic Studies, Faculty of Basic and Applied Sciences, Kermanshah University of Technology, Kermanshah, Iran.
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Document Type : Research
Abstract
Anthropology occupies a foundational role in Nietzsche’s thought and shapes the basis of many of his ethical views. By denying divine authority and rejecting any fixed essence for the human being, he regards the human as a creature who must himself become the creator of meaning and the values of his own life. From this perspective, fiṭrah or innate dispositions have no meaning in the human being, and he is defined by the will to power. This article, adopting an analytical‑critical approach, first explicates the principal components of Nietzsche’s anthropology and then examines them in light of the theory of fiṭrah in Islamic theology. Subsequently, the theory of fiṭrah is introduced as one of the pillars of Islamic anthropology, and its role in explaining human identity, dispositions, and ultimate end is considered. The findings of the research indicate that Nietzsche’s anthropology, due to its neglect of the innate and divine dimension of the human being, faces challenges in explaining the meaning of life and human dignity, whereas the theory of fiṭrah, by accepting human dynamism while simultaneously affirming the directedness of human existence, offers a more coherent and meaningful picture of the human being.
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