A Comparative Study of the Relationship between Rationality and Happiness in the Anthropological Foundations of Freedom from the Perspectives of Motahhari and Mill

Document Type : Political thought

Authors

1 Department of Political Science, Political Thought, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

2 Full Professor, Department of Political Science, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran.

3 Full Professor, Department of Political Science, Faculty of Political Science, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

4 Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Faculty of Political Science, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

The concept of freedom as the most central issue in political and moral philosophy, it has always been the focus of attention of various schools of thought. The distinction in the definitions of freedom offered is mainly due to the differences in the anthropological foundations of each school. Meanwhile, the views of John Stuart Mill as a prominent representative of Western Liberalism and the thoughts of Morteza Motahari, as a renowned Islamic thinker, have a special place.
This study aims to explain the relationship between rationality and happiness (sa'ādat) in the anthropological foundations of freedom through a comparative analysis of John Stuart Mill and Morteza Motahhari's perspectives. Using a descriptive-analytical method and relying on the original texts of these two thinkers, the research findings indicate that in Mill's philosophical framework, autonomous human rationality holds a central position, while happiness is realized as an earthly and empirical matter through individual rational choices. In this framework, freedom is primarily understood as "freedom from" interference (negative liberty), which provides the necessary ground for individual rational choices. In contrast, in Motahhari's thought, happiness as a metaphysical and divine ultimate end directs rationality, and freedom is conceptualized as "freedom for" the actualization of innate nature (positive liberty). This fundamental difference in the relationship between rationality and happiness stems from the distinct anthropological foundations of the two thinkers; while Mill's anthropology is secular and reason-centered, Motahhari's is religious and nature-centered.

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References

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State Studies of Contemporary Iran
Volume 11, Issue 4 - Serial Number 4
winter 2026
January 2026
Pages 167-188

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History

  • Receive Date: 06 November 2025
  • Accept Date: 06 November 2025
  • Publish Date: 22 December 2025

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