Condolence Messages
Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi
Iranian president
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return.
The passing of the renowned scholar and enduring figure in philosophy, the late Dr. Karim Mojtahedi, has deeply affected us.
Throughout his fruitful life, this erudite figure played a significant role in the development of philosophical research in the country through his research, teaching, mentoring numerous students, and authoring multiple works. With dedication and hard work, he remained influential in scholarly and research activities until his last days, leaving behind a rich legacy in the realm of knowledge and culture in our land.
I extend my condolences to the scientific and cultural community of the country, especially to his esteemed family, on the passing of this wise scholar. I pray to the Almighty for abundant divine mercy for the deceased, and for patience and well-being for all those who mourn his loss.
Mohammad Mehdi Esmaeili
Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance
Yesterday morning, our esteemed teacher, Dr. Karim Mojtahedi, a philosopher and a lasting figure of transient philosophy, bid farewell and departed to the realm of truth.
The intellectual and cultural society of our country mourns one of its finest native sons, who throughout his life, always carried the “pain of identity” and was considered one of the most dignified scientific figures of contemporary times. Many enthusiasts of thought, philosophy, and culture in Iran have benefited from his knowledge and wisdom, whether through his valuable writings, innovative research, translations, or through his unique teaching over the past half-century.
Dr. Karim Mojtahedi’s efforts as a teacher to educate the cultured generations of our country are among his outstanding services to our people over the past fifty years, which should be appreciated.
It is clear to those who are knowledgeable that Dr. Mojtahedi is counted among the pillars of Iranian philosophical and cultural thought and the creator of many authoritative works. However, what transformed the professor from an excellent thinker to a “distinguished thinker” in our era was not just his extensive knowledge and scientific abilities, but at least four other qualities that I witnessed during my doctoral studies at the Institute of Humanities and Cultural Studies throughout my student years: first, a perpetual thirst for learning; second, a commitment to Iran; third, the preservation of the Persian language; and fourth, a concern for the future of culture. These very qualities have transformed Professor Mojtahedi into a great teacher of his time and an authentic cultural thinker.
1. Perpetual thirst for learning
Dr. Mojtahedi’s commitment to “perpetual learning” and his famous statement that “a philosopher is a student” was not just a sign of the professor’s humility, but also an indication of an ethical virtue and knowledge awareness in the Iranian and Islamic tradition of education and upbringing that shapes the personality of genuine thinkers. He was considered a prominent representative of this educational tradition and saw the duty of thinking as the production of knowledge.
2. Endless patriotism
Another aspect of Dr. Mojtahedi’s thinking was his endless love and enthusiasm for “patriotism.” Despite living and studying in France from a young age, the professor remained committed to Iran as his roots and authenticity. This cultural authenticity is a valuable legacy and a lesson for the younger generations of our country, which should be appreciated as a “pillar of identity.”
3. Guardian of the Persian language
Dr. Mojtahedi’s love for the cultural authenticity of Iran included various customs, such as “guardianship of the Persian language.” To understand the peak of Dr. Mojtahedi’s sensitivity regarding the preservation of the Persian language, it is enough to refer to his philosophical opinion that “pretending to speak foreign languages is a sign of a personality disorder and composite ignorance. Incorporating foreign words into the Persian language is for pretense and self-assertion.” The professor believed that learning languages is good for young people and students, as he himself was proficient in several foreign languages and even assigned us to learn Latin in class and even tested us, but he said that “linguistics” should not be confused with “pretending to speak a language.”
4. Concern for the future
of culture
Dr. Mojtahedi always had a concern for the “future of culture” and reflected on it philosophically. The unraveling of cultural work was considered one of the missions of a philosopher by him, and in this regard, he also paid attention to authenticity and roots. In this regard, without any introductory preamble, I simply quote his words at the 20th National Day of Mulla Sadra, which are clearer than any explanation; where he explicitly states: “I am more of an expert in Western philosophy, but I am not a defender of Western philosophy.
By contemplating Western philosophy, we will find more possibilities in our own philosophy, but philosophy of Sadra, Suhrawardi, Mirdamad, and... can guarantee the future of our culture.”