Philosophy and the concept of failure in Davari's narration: Philosophy of failure or philosophical failure

Ahmadi, Fatemeh; Miri, Seyedjavad

doi:10.30465/os.2025.52462.2056

Philosophy and the concept of failure in Davari's narration: Philosophy of failure or philosophical failure

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

fatemeh ahmadi ¹

seyedjavad Miri ²

¹ Assistant Professor, Department of Philosophy and Theology, Lorestan University

² Professor Social Sciences Research Institute, Institute of Humanities and Cultural Studies, Tehran, Iran

10.30465/os.2025.52462.2056

Abstract

Introduction
Reza Davari Ardakani offers a profound reinterpretation of the concept of “failure” within the historical, philosophical, and existential framework of Iranian thought. This article explores how Davari’s notion of failure transcends mere social or psychological defeat, emerging instead as a layered cultural and civilizational experience. The study situates this concept within the broader context of Iran’s modern identity crisis, rupture from tradition, and confrontation with Western modernity. Central to the inquiry is the dialectic between “philosophy of failure” and “failure of philosophy,” and how responsible engagement with failure may catalyze the rebirth of thought.
Materials & Methods
The research adopts a qualitative, hermeneutic approach rooted in critical social theory. Primary sources include Davari’s philosophical writings and public discourses, analyzed through thematic and conceptual mapping. The study identifies four analytical layers of failure in Davari’s thought:

Historical rupture and the absence of generative tradition
Existential interpretation of the “era of closure”
Cultural and institutional stagnation (e.g., academic inertia, habitual repetition, decline of dialogue)
Civilizational and identity consequences manifesting as crisis of self-awareness

Comparative analysis is employed to distinguish Davari’s framework from other Iranian and Western philosophical positions, including Heidegger and Fardid, while emphasizing his unique project of reconstructing Islamic rationality.
Discussion & Result
Davari conceptualizes failure as a historical-existential condition rooted in the disjunction between tradition and modernity. He argues that Iranian society’s mimetic encounter with the West has led to a loss of organic continuity, rendering tradition inert and modernity superficial. His critique of Iranian intellectuals—marked by unread philosophical texts and disengagement from deep reflection—highlights structural deficiencies in education and public discourse.
While Davari warns against blind Westernization and reactionary anti-Westernism, his proposed remedies—reviving tradition and rethinking the West—raise questions about practical implementation. The study critiques the lack of institutional strategies in Davari’s work, especially regarding education, humanities, and international dialogue. Davari’s vision of founding a new rationality within the Islamic world, distinct from global modernity, is presented as a philosophical horizon rather than a concrete roadmap. His emphasis on dialectical engagement between tradition and modernity aims to generate a new mode of thought that is neither nostalgic nor imitative.
Conclusion
Davari’s philosophy of failure is not a lamentation but a call to philosophical awakening. He sees failure as a mirror in which Iranian thought can recognize its historical limitations and begin anew. His framework offers a compelling diagnosis of Iran’s intellectual and civilizational crisis, emphasizing the need for historical consciousness, creative tradition, and critical engagement with the West.
However, the study concludes that Davari’s project, while rich in conceptual depth, requires complementary practical strategies to translate philosophical insight into societal transformation. Failure, in Davari’s narrative, is not the end—but the beginning of renewed questioning, identity reconstruction, and philosophical creativity. Thus, the “philosophy of failure” becomes a philosophy of possibility.

Keywords

Age of decline"

Identity crisis"

Tradition and modernity"

Philosophy of failure"

Philosophical failure"

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