Iranian Nationalism and Western Modernism in the Early Decades of the 14th Century

Mahoozi, Reza

doi:10.22059/jop.2025.399010.1006926

Iranian Nationalism and Western Modernism in the Early Decades of the 14th Century

Document Type : Scientific-research

Author

reza mahoozi

Associate Professor, Institute for Cultural, Social and Civilization Studies, Tehran, Iran

10.22059/jop.2025.399010.1006926

Abstract

Although some historians and researchers attribute the story of Iranians' acquaintance with modern philosophies to the Nasserist period, and the acquaintance of the exiles with those philosophies, and the dialogue between students and professors of Iranian schools, including the Dar al- Fonūn School, the Political School, the Sepahsalar School, the Marvī School, etc., and some European philosophers, and in these dialogues, European philosophical schools and discussions are mentioned, the fact is that these philosophies clearly and distinctly emerged in the social movement focused on Iranian nationalism during the Ahmad Shāhi and Reza Shāhi periods, more than in previous periods, and influenced the course of the cultural and social developments of their time. The question is, what is the connection between Iranian nationalism of the late Qājār and early Pahlavī periods and modernism and philosophies, and most importantly, in which instances has this association been objectively demonstrated? This article seeks to provide an answer to this question under the two major narratives of "Iranian state-nation" and "Iranian modernity," both of which are manifestations of Iranian nationalism in the above time period; two narratives that are also linked to modernism and new Western philosophies. This reinterpretation is itself part of philosophical Iran’s study to understand the why and what of the organizations and policies implemented in the contemporary period of this land.

Keywords

Nationalism

Modernism

Qājār

Pahlavī

Modern Philosophies

Education

Cultural Developments

Subjects

philosophy

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