محمدرضا شمسا

Civilization plays a central role in Ali Shariati's intellectual framework, to the extent that understanding his broader philosophical system is nearly impossible without comprehending his views on the concept of civilization and the evolution of human society throughout history. This article seeks to explore Shariati’s approach to civilization by employing the dynamic framework of Thomas A. Spragens and addressing five interconnected questions: What is the concept of civilization? What are the characteristics that shape human nature? What are the obstacles to human development? What are the factors that can free humanity from these obstacles? And, finally, what drives the progress of human civilization? The findings of this study shows that Shariati views civilization as the collective achievements and accumulated knowledge of human society, which do not naturally exist in the environment but are created by humans due to three inherent qualities: self-awareness, free will, and creativity. These attributes are inherited from God and exist as latent potentials within each individual. To actualize these qualities, however, humanity must overcome four determinisms: nature, history, society, and the self. According to Shariati, the gradual mastery over these four constraints leads to the formation of civilization. Throughout historical processes, humans gradually liberate themselves from these external and internal forces. In this transformation, individuals evolve from beings shaped by nature, society, history, and the self into creators of nature, society, history, and the self. As a result, their divine-like attributes—self-awareness, will, and creativity—reach full potential, leading them to the ultimate ideal of a true, exemplary human, which in Shariati's view, is a near-divine figure.