Famous Iranian Philosophers
Explore the profound ideas and contributions of famous Iranian philosophers who have shaped intellectual thought across the centuries. These scholars have influenced a wide array of fields, from ethics and metaphysics to political theory and religious philosophy.
Mohammad Ali Foroughi
Key ideas: Constitutionalism and modern political philosophy
Most famous work: The History of Philosophy
Famous quote: "Constitutionalism is the basis of our salvation."
Age: Born January 6, 1877 – Died November 26, 1942
Abbas Milani
Key ideas: Iranian political history, modernity, and democracy
Most famous work: The Shah
Famous quote: "The key to understanding Iran is to understand the complexities of its history."
Age: Born 1949
Mulla Sadra
Key ideas: Transcendent theosophy, metaphysics, and existentialism
Most famous work: The Transcendent Philosophy of the Four Journeys of the Intellect
Famous quote: "Existence precedes essence."
Age: Born 1571 – Died 1640
Al-Ghazali
Key ideas: Islamic theology, Sufism, and mysticism
Most famous work: The Incoherence of the Philosophers
Famous quote: "Knowledge without action is insanity, and action without knowledge is vanity."
Age: Born 1058 – Died 1111
Al-Tabari
Key ideas: Islamic jurisprudence, historical scholarship, and theology
Most famous work: The History of Prophets and Kings
Famous quote: "The quest for knowledge is a lifelong journey."
Age: Born 838 – Died 923
Mazdak
Key ideas: Proto-socialism, equality, and communalism
Most famous work: Teachings of Mazdak (oral tradition)
Famous quote: "Greed is the root of all suffering."
Age: Born late 5th century – Died 524 AD
Khaarazm (Al-Khwarizmi)
Key ideas: Mathematics, algebra, and algorithms
Most famous work: The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing
Famous quote: "Algebra is the language through which we understand the world."
Age: Born c. 780 – Died c. 850
Molaana (Rumi)
Key ideas: Sufism, love, and mysticism
Most famous work: Masnavi
Famous quote: "Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love."
Age: Born September 30, 1207 – Died December 17, 1273
Zarathustra
Key ideas: Zoroastrianism, dualism, and ethics
Most famous work: The Gathas (hymns attributed to Zarathustra)
Famous quote: "Good thoughts, good words, good deeds."
Age: Born c. 1500–1000 BCE (estimates vary)
