Human dignity, from Fakhr Razi’s and Mulla Sadra’s viewpoints, effects and outcomes (theological and ethical)

Human dignity is considered as one of the central issues concerning philosophical anthropology of the present time that has takendifferent approaches in the field of humanities and religious studies. Fakhre Razi and Mulla Sadra are as two influential representatives of Emamiye and Ash’ari school, who havevaluable ideas and thoughts in this field, have noticed this subject.Therefore, the present study aimed to study and compare views of these two thinkers through a descriptive and analytical method. Fakhre Razi and Mulla Sadra believe that human dignity is rooted in his transcendental dimension, it means that human beings is defined in relation to the universe and God, so that from their points of view, speak of human dignity would be meaningless if we eliminate God. But based on Mulla Sadra’s philosophical foundations, human dignity is existential and since existence is graded, human dignity is dubious and involves some levels. Accordingly, human being inherently enjoys dignity, but he is able to reach acquired dignity only in ascending path. Of course, gaining levels of acquired dignity is also possible with existential the attributes of perfection such as knowledge and cognition, faith, piety, and wisdom. In theological school of Fakhre Razi, the reason for the reverence of human being to other creatures is known as natural and inherent that is given to human being by means of wisdom in order toreach virtuous morality and gain acquired dignityby obedience and subordination of the religion. But reaching to the rank of perfect human being and achieving the felicity of this world and hereafter has been considered as outcomes of human dignity. It is concluded that Mulla Sadra has demonstrated inherent and acquired dignity while Fakhre Razi believes in the theory of primordial human nature (Fitrah) that is the good and the evil in human nature; however, he haslimitedly accepted the theory of acquisition.