IS THERE PAKISTANI PHILOSOPHY?

Abstract

This paper explores the foundational question: What is Pakistani philosophy? Rather than seeking to define it as an existing school of thought, the inquiry examines its perceived absence, its displacement into adjacent domains, and the structural conditions under which a distinct philosophical tradition might emerge. Despite a rich intellectual landscape across law, theology, literature, and ethics, Pakistan has not developed a formally recognized philosophical canon. The paper engages with the intellectual legacy of Allama Iqbal, widely regarded as a pivotal philosophical voice—and considers how his ideas continue to inform discourse while remaining open to reinterpretation in light of contemporary challenges. It further explores how philosophical inquiry in Pakistan often occurs through non-philosophical fields such as jurisprudence, mysticism, and activism. Arguing that such a tradition is unlikely to emerge from current institutional settings, the paper suggests that it will more plausibly be shaped by independent thinkers across disciplines. It concludes by outlining the contours of a future Pakistani philosophy: contextually grounded, intellectually plural, and epistemically self-directed.