A Critical Perspective to assume coordination between self-interest and realization of collective well-being by utilizing the opinions of Allameh Tabatabai

Author

Director of the International Economy Department of the Islamic Council Research Center

10.30471/iee.2025.10186.2418

Abstract

The current research examines the relationship between self-interest and collective well-being; Throughout the history of economics, many thinkers have tried to establish a general and universal relationship between self-interest and collective well-being based on their theoretical foundations. The specific question of the research is whether it is basically possible to establish a universal relationship between the above two components. A descriptive-analytical method was used to answer the above question and the result was that the relationship between personal interest and collective well-being can be Defined based on specific attributes and this relationship in not absolute; This means that immediately after discussing the relationship between personal interest and collective well-being, one should ask about which goods or service? In other words, first, according to each product or service, a. Main actors, b. The scope of applying personal interest in conditions of complete freedom and c. The extent of the effect of self-interest should be known, and then by identifying these characteristics, the relationship between personal interest and collective well-being in that area should be investigated. This point of view is the innovation aspect of the current research. And in the pursuit of this conclusion, the views of Allama Tabatabai have been utilized. The research suggests that "the relationship between behavior based on self-interest and the interests of society" must be specifically examined for each good, blessing, or service.

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