Muhammad Husayn Tabataba’i born 1904 in Tabriz, Iran is the first modern islamic philosopher we talked about. Tabataba’i continued the philosophy of the medieval period, especially the beliefs of Isfahan. He was taught in Avicennan, Mulla Sadra, Mysticism, mathematics and logic. Writes that his mission is to “correct the beliefs of students on the basis of truth”, so he seems to have a certain urgency about his actions. He wants to help students leave worldly trouble behind. He believed that world could be understood by rationality but also believed that this should be done under supervision of an infallible Imam. Philosophy should make sure the right system of government was in place. He also tried to mediate between Western an Middle Eastern philosophy.
Tabataba’i’s exegesis is a rationalization of the Quran and basically a description of his epistemology. He says that humans can distinguish between physical and immaterial, because of rationality. The exegesis also connects philosophy further with religion and Tabataba’i brings out the first real Metaphysics in islamic philosophy. We exist in existence before Quiddity(essence).
fjs’ blog 