The Status of Philosophy in the Historical Period of Islamic Iran, by Reza Davari Ardakani

Description

In this work, Reza Davari Ardakani undertakes a critical reappraisal of the ‘station of philosophy’ within the historical matrix of Islamic Iran. His central preoccupation lies neither in an unreflective anti-Western stance nor in a reactionary impulse toward revivalism, but rather in a rigorous critique of the ‘condition of mimesis’—or uncritical imitation—pervading contemporary non-Western societies. Within this conceptual architecture, he interrogates core notions such as historical consciousness, philosophy as the ultimate manifestation of history, the dialectic between genuine knowledge and constructed knowledge, and the constitutive role of civilization in molding human existence. In so doing, Davari Ardakani endeavors to delineate a non-Eurocentric hermeneutic of modernity and civilization on a global scale, oriented toward the future of humanity. Ultimately, Davari’s intellectual project may be conceived as a sustained effort to transcend epistemic dependency and reclaim the possibility of autonomous thought—an enterprise that, through critical reflection on the foundations of thought and a historically attuned understanding of the contemporary condition, illuminates a horizon for emancipation from derivative imitation and enables a generative, creative engagement with the meta-colonial future

Reza Davari Ardakani (born July 6, 1933) is a prominent Iranian philosopher, academic, and author known for hiscontributions to contemporary philosophy and cultural thought. Born in Ardakan, central Iran, he studied philosophy atthe University of Tehran, earning his doctorate in 1967. He subsequently taught philosophy at the university, eventuallybecoming professor emeritus. His intellectual interests include Islamic philosophy, Western thought, modernity, and therelationship between culture and civilization. Influenced by German philosopher Martin Heidegger and Iranian thinkerAhmad Fardid, Davari has critically examined Western modernity and its implications for Iranian society. He served aspresident of Iran’s Academy of Sciences from 1998 to 2023. His numerous books and essays have significantly shapedphilosophical debates about Iranian identity, intellectual development, and intercultural dialogue.

Seyed Javad Miri (Translator) is a Swedish-Iranian sociologist, public intellectual, and professor of sociology at the Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies in Tehran, Iran. He is a specialist in Islamic social theory, inter-civilizational discourse, and contemporary Islamic thought. He has published numerous books and articles and is the founder of the journal Islamic Perspective. He is the Co-Director of the Institute for Critical Social Theory.

Paperback. 130 Pages.

Published: October 2026

ISBN: 978-1-971333-13-7

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