Foundational Methodology and the Problem of the Humanities in Iran: A Critical Analysis of Hamid Parsania’s “Foundational Methodology”

This article offers an analytical and critical examination of the foundations, structure, and theoretical implications of the concept of “Foundational Methodology” of Prof. Hamid Parsania. On the one hand, the study elucidates the major achievements of this theoretical framework, including its provision of an integrated conceptual apparatus for the critique of scientific theories, its explanation of the transmission and reception of knowledge in non-Western societies, and its attempt to operationalize the principles of Transcendent Philosophy (al-Ḥikmah al-Mutaʿāliyah) for the humanities. On the other hand, it critically investigates several fundamental challenges within the framework. The most significant of these challenges include the gap between the philosophical foundations of Transcendent Philosophy and methodological operationalization, the ambiguity surrounding the hierarchical relationship among the four foundational levels (ontology, epistemology, anthropology, and methodology), and the neglect of the institutional dimensions of science and the role of discursive unconscious structures. The findings further indicate that, although “Foundational Methodology” has been successful in explaining the crisis of the humanities in Iran and in proposing a strategy of “active engagement” as an alternative to “passive consumption,” its transformation into a productive research program requires the development of more concrete methodological tools, sustained dialogue with other intellectual traditions, and a stronger emphasis on the creation of original theoretical frameworks. Ultimately, this study evaluates “Foundational Methodology” as an emerging paradigm that, by addressing its existing shortcomings, has the potential to play a more influential role in shaping the future of the humanities in Iran.