A Survey of Allameh Tabatabai's Approach and the Theistic Existentialist Philosophers on Human Dignity

Some theistic existentialists define human inner talents in relation to human dignity, and emphasize on such aspects as human free will and responsibility. Allameh Tabataba'I, as a Muslim scholar, regards human dignity as being connected to theism. Human free will is one of the similarities of the two approaches, with the difference that Allame, unlike the existentialists, does not play an independent role for human free will. In the view of Allama, human dignity is conceived in relation to the Origin, while for existentialists there may be found little role for human connection to God and all things are founded upon human will. One of the most important aspects of Allameh's view is the consideration of human nature in the realization of real dignity. As viewed by Allameh, human natural development needs a plan and such a plan should be based on religious and revelatory teachings. On the contrary, existetialists have viewed religious teachings as limiting human free will and freedom. This article compares the approach of the theist existentialist philosophers and Allameh Tabatabai`s in the field of human dignity, and tries to show their similarity and difference.