Exploring the possibility of social sciences according to Allame Tabatabai's social philosophy

The emergence and establishment of modern social sciences in Western societies is explained as an “epistemic disembodying” which resulted in change in the metaphysics in the West. The views of Immanuel Kant have had a determining role in this process by providing the “possibility conditions” for the modern social sciences. By altering the conception of man from a “heteronymous being” to an “autonomous being”, as well as positing religion “within the boundary of mere reason”, Kant brought about dramatic changes into the metaphysics of the West .In comparison, Allameh Tabatabaee, as a prominent representative of the contemporary Islamic thought in Iran, has prepared a similar ground for the transformation of Islamic metaphysics. By suggesting the concept of “e’tebariyat” and a rational understanding of Islamic theology, Allameh Tabatabaee provided a general but introductory outline of a paradigm shift in understanding man and his relation with God in the Islamic metaphysics. However, by considering human reason as deficient, Tabatabee defines man not as an autonomous being but as a creature which is in need of an external support, namely, revelation. In this paper, it is argued that the consequence of this view is an understanding of society as a non-self-sufficient and non-self-founded, but founded on reason and revelation, simultaneously. The article concludes that although Allameh Tabatabaee provides some preparations for the “possibility conditions” of a new tradition of social sciences", he stands merely at the beginning of a long path which yet to be followed and completed by his students.