Ostad Abdollah Anwar

Ostad Abdollah Anwar (1924 - 2023)

I had the honor of studying formal logic and Wittgenstein's philosophy with Ostad Abdollah Anwar. During a visit to his home in the Kashanak region of Tehran, he mentioned that he was working on an article about the history of Lalezar Street in Tehran. After the article was published, he kindly gave me a copy, which I studied carefully. This article, along with his other writings on Tehran, laid the foundation for a field of study in Iran known as "Tehranology". Below, I present a short biography of Ostad Anwar:

A distinguished scholar in various fields, including Persian literature, history, mathematics, logic, philosophy, and library studies, Professor Seyyed Abdollah Anwar was born in Tehran, Iran, on Saturday, August 9, 1924. He received his high school diplomas in literature and mathematics in 1942 and 1943, respectively. He then pursued higher education at Iranian universities, earning Bachelor's Degrees in law, pure mathematics, politics, and economics in 1945, 1946, 1948, and 1949, respectively. Driven by his passion for art and science, he continued his research and studies in numerous fields, including Persian literature, philosophy, mathematics (quadrivium and mathematical and modal logic), physics, law, politics, economics, theology, religious jurisprudence, library science, history, tehranology, and genealogy science.

Anwar was greatly influenced by his mentors, including his father Seyyed Yaghoub Anwar, the renowned Iranian mathematician Mohsen Hachtroudi, and Iranian Twelver Shia scholar and philosopher Morteza Motahhari.

Anwar's interdisciplinary approach and vast knowledge made him a revered figure in multiple fields, earning him respect and admiration from peers and students alike. Known for his generosity in sharing knowledge, Anwar often mentored young scholars and students, fostering a love for learning and intellectual exploration. His impact on Iranian culture and academia was profound, culminating in a public funeral in Tehran in 2023, a testament to his enduring legacy. He passed away on Thursday, March 9, 2023.

His notable works include:

• List of Manuscripts of the Iranian National Library: A comprehensive ten-volume catalog.

• Contribution to the Dehkhoda Dictionary: Authored ten volumes of this essential Persian language dictionary, specifically covering the letter "خ" (kh) and part of the letter "ک" (k).

• Editing "Jahangosha-ye Naderi" (جهانگشای نادری): A significant historical text.

• Scholium on "Asas-al-Eghtebas" (اساس الاقتباس): Annotations on this book of logic by the Persian scholar Khajeh Nasir-al-Din Tusi.

• Scholium on "Shefa" (شفا): Annotations on this 22-volume encyclopedia by Abu Ali Sina (Avicenna), with comparisons to the works of Aristotle.

• Influential Articles: Published numerous articles across various fields including logic and tehranology.

Also, check my note on the history of Persian mathematics.