The article analyses the concept of “self-love” comparing it with ethical and psychological egoism, selfishness, and as well as it's inclusiveness of love for others. According to the hypothesis of this article, Mullā Ṣadrā Shīrāzī’s special metaphysical and anthropological foundations provide a comprehensive rationale for synthesizing self-love and love for others. This is in harmony with his definition and criteria of love. The narrative, grounded in principles such as the principality of existence, analogical gradation, cognation of cause and effect, manifestation, and Platonic theory of Ideas, depicts love as intertwined with the universe’s structure. Love, attuned to the divine origin of beauty, goodness, and perfection has a divine identity, and the affection directed towards oneself and others essentially extends from this divine form of love. However, the hierarchical nature of love this is analogous to existence, manifests at various stages of human development, with each phase embodying a distinct facet serving as a conduit toward the subsequent level.
