The phenomenon of alienation, as one of the profound existential crises of modern man resulting from the disconnection between the individual and their authentic self, the universe, and the ultimate purpose of life, has attracted the attention of thinkers across various philosophical and psychological domains. On the other hand, the concept of the meaning of life, as the antithesis of this rupture, plays a central role in restoring identity and authentic existence. The present study aims to comparatively examine the issue of alienation and the meaning of life in the thought of Mulla Sadra, a prominent philosopher of Transcendent Theosophy (Ḥikmat-e Muta‘āliyah), and Viktor Frankl, the founder of existential logotherapy. The research employs an analytical–comparative method based on library resources and, through conceptual analysis, extracts the theoretical foundations of each perspective and compares them.



The findings reveal that, in Mulla Sadra’s intellectual system, meaning is an ontological, innate, and teleological reality actualized through the substantial motion of the soul, existential journeying, and connection to the Divine. In contrast, Frankl views the meaning of life as a psychological–existential and individual reality that must be discovered through suffering, responsibility, and the freedom to choose. Despite their differing ontological foundations, both thinkers emphasize the necessity of returning to the true self and rediscovering meaning as a way out of alienation. This research underscores the potential for interdisciplinary dialogue between Islamic philosophy and existential psychotherapy in addressing the