A Rational Reading of the History of Iranian Thought under the Theory of Iranshahri: A Review of Seyyed Javad Tabatabai’s Theory of Iranology

Without a doubt, Seyyed Javad Tabatabai’s theory stands out among the various Iranian theories and is widely regarded as one of the most significant theories of our time. The intricacy of Tabatabai’s discussions, coupled with the historical backdrop in which they take place, as well as the extensive body of literature written about Iran over the past century, have bestowed a unique status upon his project. While Tabatabai has occasionally been criticized for being contradictory and experiencing intellectual gaps, his discussions consistently follow a coherent intellectual trajectory. Therefore, delving into the intellectual framework of this thinker and examining the components of his ideas can aid in uncovering this intellectual trajectory. In light of this, the following article endeavors to analyze the dimensions and foundations of Seyed Javad Tabatabai’s research program through a historical lens, with the aim of gaining an understanding, even if only a glimpse, into this thinker’s plan.