A Study and Critique of the Theory of the Total Susceptibility of Human Thought to Objective and Subjective Circumstances based on Shahid Motahhari’s Views

The problem of total susceptibility of thoughts to objective (social) and subjective (individual) circumstances is a major issue propounded by some schools of thought, such as Sophism, humanism, and existentialism. On these accounts, the human thought or mind is the criterion of the truth, and any thought is susceptible to objective (social) and subjective (individual) circumstances. This article draws on the descriptive-analytical and critical method to analyze and criticize this theory in accordance with Shahid Motahhari’s works and views. It answers the following question: Is any thought fully susceptible to its subjective and objective circumstances? The results show that the theory is true of purely materialistic people whose logic or rationale is that of self-interest, and not true of those whose logic is that of innate nature (fiţra) and are trained in the divine school. Furthermore, this theory denies the existence of a reality, holding that the human thought is a product of, and susceptible to, its subjective and objective circumstances, without assigning any autonomy or freedom to human thinking, while humans have the freewill and awareness to avoid the impacts of their subjective and objective circumstances. This theory is based on materialism, skepticism (relativism), and a generalization of the principle of interaction of things and thoughts. It is subject to several objections, including the relativity of truth, denial of the possibility of error in human thoughts, invalidity of all philosophies and thoughts (both divine and material).