Journal of Religion and the Contemporary World

Journal of Religion and the Contemporary World

Sacred Science versus Modern Science in the Thought of Seyyed Hossein Nasr; Reflection of Epistemological Foundations and Political Consequences in Contemporary Traditionalism

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Author
Seyedsajjad Aleseydeghafour
Researcher, Research Institute of Culture and Teachings of the Holy Quran, Islamic Sciences and Culture Academy, Qom, Iran.
10.22096/rc.2026.2077371.1284
Abstract
This article examines the fundamental opposition between sacred science and modern science from the perspective of contemporary Traditionalists. Using an interpretive-analytical approach and considering the intellectual and historical contexts of the formation of Traditionalist thought, this study shows that their radical critique of modern science is not merely a technical criticism, but an inseparable part of a total rejection of the modern worldview and its socio-political consequences. The article is organized into three main sections: First, the epistemological and metaphysical distinctions between traditional and modern sciences are explained. Second, the critique of secular science and modern technology is analyzed in light of concepts such as the desacralization of nature and the crisis of meaning. Third, the central role of sacred science in delineating the Traditionalists' ideal political system, which is based on the principle of inequality and the guardianship of the philosopher-sage, is examined. The main argument of the article is that from the perspective of Traditionalists like Nasr, the revival of sacred science is the only way to overcome the multidimensional crises of the modern world and to restore a political order based on the eternal and perennial truths of the philosophia perennis. To enrich the analysis, historical examples from non-Islamic traditions (ancient India and traditional China), comparisons with Iranian thinkers, practical strategies for reviving sacred science, and Nasr's role in intercultural dialogues are also examined.
Keywords
Sacred Science
Modern Science
Traditionalism
Seyyed Hossein Nasr
Philosophia Perennis
Technology
Political System
Subjects
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Journal of Religion and the Contemporary World

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 01 July 2026