Muḥammad ʻAlī Furūghī

Mohammad Ali Foroughi (Zoka-ol-Molk) (born 1875, Tehran – died 1942, Tehran) was a prominent Iranian statesman, writer, philosopher, translator, and intellectual who played a pivotal role in Iran’s cultural and political modernization during the Constitutional and Pahlavi eras. He studied at Dar ul-Funun and the School of Political Science, mastering French, Arabic, and English. Foroughi served in various high-ranking positions including Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Finance, and Chief Justice, and was instrumental in the transition of power from Reza Shah to Mohammad Reza Shah. His major works include The Course of Philosophy in Europe, Translation of Descartes’ Principles of Philosophy, Western Philosophical Schools, The Art of Rhetoric, and Political and Cultural Essays. He was also a founding member of the Iranian Academy of Language and played a key role in promoting Persian language and modern education.