The Concept of the Self in Phenomenology and Sufism: A Comparative Study
Zaney Sheikh
International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research June 25, 2025 DOI: 10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i03.49209 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Philosophy of mind |
| Key points | Argues that Husserlian phenomenology and Ibn 'Arabi's Sufi mysticism, despite differing metaphysical commitments, both interrogate the ego and seek a deeper, more authentic subjectivity. The authors conclude that phenomenology seeks transcendental subjectivity through eidetic reduction, while Sufism envisions annihilation of the lower self as the means of unveiling the true, divine self. |
Abstract
The philosophies of Edmund Husserl and the mystical insights of Ibn 'Arabi are the main subjects of this essay, which examines the idea of the self from the twin views of Islamic Sufism and Western phenomenology. Phenomenology emphasizes the self as the pure consciousness that constitutes the world through intentionality, while Sufism views the self (nafs) as something to be purified on the path to spiritual realization and unity with the Divine. Despite differing metaphysical commitments and cultural contexts, both traditions reflect a deep concern with the structure and transformation of the self. This study aims to bridge philosophical and mystical perspectives by demonstrating how both traditions interrogate the ego and strive for a deeper, more authentic form of subjectivity. The paper concludes that while phenomenology seeks transcendental subjectivity through eidetic reduction, Sufism envisions the annihilation of the lower self as the means of unveiling the true, divine self.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on philosophy of mind, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychosis as a state of aberrant salience: a framework linking biology, phenomenology, and pharmacology in schizophrenia. | 2003 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| From dopamine to salience to psychosis--linking biology, pharmacology and phenomenology of psychosis. | 2005 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| How do the brain's time and space mediate consciousness and its different dimensions? Temporo-spatial theory of consciousness (TTC). | 2017 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| The phenomenology of deep brain stimulation-induced changes in OCD: an enactive affordance-based model. | 2013 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Looking for the Self: Phenomenology, Neurophysiology and Philosophical Significance of Drug-induced Ego Dissolution | 2017 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |