University of Zanjan Philosophical Meditations 2228-5253 Articles in Press 2025 11 02 Re-examining Mulla Sadra's Concept of Happiness in Light of the Model of Philosophy as a Way of Life With an Emphasis on the Works of Pierre Hadot and John Cottingham Re-examining Mulla Sadra's Concept of Happiness in Light of the Model of Philosophy as a Way of Life With an Emphasis on the Works of Pierre Hadot and John Cottingham 731369 10.30470/phm.2025.2062486.2696 FA Gholamali Hashemifar PhD student in Islamic Philosophy and Theology, University of Tehran 0000-0001-7133-7231 Amirabbas Alizamani Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy of Religion, University of Tehran 0000-0001-6752-6718 Journal Article 2025 06 02 The issue of happiness has always been one of the most fundamental philosophical concerns across various intellectual traditions. Mulla Sadra’s Transcendent Philosophy, as one of the richest Islamic philosophical systems, offers a distinctive conception of happiness grounded in the perception of existence, the actualization of theoretical intellect, and inner spiritual journey. In recent decades, a new approach in philosophical studies, termed "philosophy as a way of life," has emerged, centered on the ideas of philosophers like Pierre Hadot and John Cottingham, emphasizing a return to philosophy as a mode of living and existential transformation. This article, employing a descriptive-analytical method, aims to re-examine and analyze the concept of happiness in Sadraian philosophy through the conceptual framework of philosophy as a lived practice. The findings indicate that in Sadraian philosophy, happiness is an existential, gradual process linked to rational self-realization. This understanding, when viewed through the lens of philosophy as a way of life, can take on a new, effective, and accessible form for contemporary individuals. Thus, Sadraian philosophy can be regarded not merely as a theoretical system but as a form of lived wisdom aimed at guiding humanity toward existential perfection and inner tranquility. The issue of happiness has always been one of the most fundamental philosophical concerns across various intellectual traditions. Mulla Sadra’s Transcendent Philosophy, as one of the richest Islamic philosophical systems, offers a distinctive conception of happiness grounded in the perception of existence, the actualization of theoretical intellect, and inner spiritual journey. In recent decades, a new approach in philosophical studies, termed "philosophy as a way of life," has emerged, centered on the ideas of philosophers like Pierre Hadot and John Cottingham, emphasizing a return to philosophy as a mode of living and existential transformation. This article, employing a descriptive-analytical method, aims to re-examine and analyze the concept of happiness in Sadraian philosophy through the conceptual framework of philosophy as a lived practice. The findings indicate that in Sadraian philosophy, happiness is an existential, gradual process linked to rational self-realization. This understanding, when viewed through the lens of philosophy as a way of life, can take on a new, effective, and accessible form for contemporary individuals. Thus, Sadraian philosophy can be regarded not merely as a theoretical system but as a form of lived wisdom aimed at guiding humanity toward existential perfection and inner tranquility.