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

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Gholamali Hashemifar 1
Amirabbas Alizamani 2
1 PhD student in Islamic Philosophy and Theology, University of Tehran
2 Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy of Religion, University of Tehran
10.30470/phm.2025.2062486.2696
Abstract
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.
Keywords
Happiness
the good life
philosophy as a way of life
Mulla Sadra
Pierre Hadot
Cottingham
Subjects
Philosophical Meditations

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 02 November 2025