List of articles (by subject) Studies on Mulla Sadra and the Transcendent Philosophy
-
Open Access Article
1 - Applications of Mullā Ṣadrā’s Psychological Principles in Education
Mahdi RezaeiThe basis of education, in general, and Islamic education, in particular, is the human soul (psyche). In order to educate the soul and psyche, there are some principles that are employed to achieve the predetermined goals and objectives. Given the religious approach of MoreThe basis of education, in general, and Islamic education, in particular, is the human soul (psyche). In order to educate the soul and psyche, there are some principles that are employed to achieve the predetermined goals and objectives. Given the religious approach of this study and the potentials of the Transcendent Philosophy in this regard, the author has tried to identify and examine the applications of the principles of educating the soul (psyche) based on Mullā Ṣadrā’s philosophical thoughts. Some of these principles include the substance of the soul’s immateriality, the corporeal origination and spiritual subsistence of the soul, and its graded trans-substantial motion in its process of development. Following this, he has dealt with the educational principles inferred from the mentioned principles and the purposes of this study, such as graded transcendence and graduation and transformationalism, reform, and recreation in the process of educating the soul (psyche). This study was conducted following a combination of descriptive-analytic and inferential methods while using library resources in order to describe the concepts and analyze and clarify the problem. The author has specifically referred to Mullā Ṣadrā’s books (particularly al-Asfār, VIII and IX) and the works of some of his commentators in order to extract and infer the related principles employed in the education of the soul. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
2 - An Evaluation of the Common Interpretations of Fact Itself and its Whatness Based on Mullā Ṣadrā’s Final View
Seyedeh Zahra Mousavi Baygi Seyd Mohammad MusaviOne of the discussions that has attracted great attention in scientific-philosophical societies is epistemology and its related problems such as the problem of the “criterion for the truth of propositions”. Muslim thinkers believe that the criterion corresponds with naf MoreOne of the discussions that has attracted great attention in scientific-philosophical societies is epistemology and its related problems such as the problem of the “criterion for the truth of propositions”. Muslim thinkers believe that the criterion corresponds with nafs al-amr (fact itself); however, they have provided different views and interpretations of this concept. The required data for the study were collected through the library method. After describing and analyzing them, while evaluating three famous views regarding the truth of fact itself, reporting the related criticisms, and emphasizing the incomprehensiveness of these views, the researchers try to demonstrate that fact itself means “God’s essential differentiated knowledge”. Their standpoint is in conformity with gnostic and Sadrian philosophical principles. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
3 - The Use of Intellect and Reasoning in Demonstrating Divine Attributes in Mullā Ṣadrā’s View
Mozhgan Fatahi Ali Arshad RiahiMullā Ṣadrā states in his works that the employment of the intellect and intellectual reasoning is efficient in the independent demonstration and understanding of divine attributes. By explaining Mullā Ṣadrā’s method of using the intellect, it becomes clear that he has MoreMullā Ṣadrā states in his works that the employment of the intellect and intellectual reasoning is efficient in the independent demonstration and understanding of divine attributes. By explaining Mullā Ṣadrā’s method of using the intellect, it becomes clear that he has formulated his discussion based on proof and has presented some extensive and cohesive discussions about divine attributes so that the most important of which have been clearly explained and demonstrated. Based on the present study, the most important philosophical arguments and principles which Mullā Ṣadrā has explained and demonstrated in this field include ontological proof, principle of “Truth in its simplicity contains everything”, principle of “The giver of something cannot lack it”, and principle of “The Necessary Being is necessary by essence from all aspects, and providence. Mullā Ṣadrā’s extensive discussions on divine attributes, which are based on rational arguments, indicate his belief in the truth of the intellect’s independent function in this field, on the one hand, and confirm its capability in the field of epistemology of divine attributes in an independent form, on the other hand. The result of this study is the development of an approach based on distinguishing the two independent and instrumental functions of the intellect, which has not been considered in other studies previously. Not distinguishing between these two functions has resulted in attributing an irrational and unverifiable or even eclectic nature to the methodology of the Transcendent Philosophy. As a case study on divine attributes, the present study explains the rational, verifiable, and philosophical dimensions to the Sadrian Transcendent Philosophy. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
4 - Ontological Functions of the Corporeal Dimension of Man in Mullā Ṣadrā’s View
Hadi Jafary Ali Arshad RiahiMan’s corporeal dimension is of great significance from various angles in Mullā Ṣadrā’s anthropology. In this paper, the authors deal with one of its important dimensions, that is, its ontological functions. Mullā Ṣadrā has not allocated any independent section to the f MoreMan’s corporeal dimension is of great significance from various angles in Mullā Ṣadrā’s anthropology. In this paper, the authors deal with one of its important dimensions, that is, its ontological functions. Mullā Ṣadrā has not allocated any independent section to the functions of Man’s corporeal dimension in his works and has not even directly referred to it. However, these functions can be inferred from his views. A study of his works indicate that Man’s corporeal dimension performs some important functions from an ontological perspective. In this regard reference can be made to the following functions: developing belief, promotion and evolution of Man, having free will, performing opposite acts, completing mental and rational acts, constructing and improving the world, realizing the noblest order, granting identity to the soul, and developing the identity of the perfect Man and some apparently contradictory roles such as becoming the source of evil and the source of freedom from evil. This study, which has been conducted following the library and content analysis methods, in addition to demonstrating the significance and necessity of Man’s corporeal dimension in the world of creation, illustrates that the functions of this dimension have various aspects from an ontological viewpoint and pertain to a number of important realms in the world of being. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
5 - Philosophy of Imāmah and its Place in Mullā Ṣadrā’s Philosophy with an Emphasis on Sharḥ Uṣūl al-Kāfī
Abdollah Mirahmadi Mona AmanipoorA study of the discussions of the book Sharḥ uṣūl al-kāfī reveals that Mullā Ṣadrā has tried in this book to interpret Imāmah (leadership) and its nature – as a position appointed by God – based on the truths in the words of the Infallible Imams. In spite of the rationa MoreA study of the discussions of the book Sharḥ uṣūl al-kāfī reveals that Mullā Ṣadrā has tried in this book to interpret Imāmah (leadership) and its nature – as a position appointed by God – based on the truths in the words of the Infallible Imams. In spite of the rational and shar‘ī nature of the concept of Imāmah and the different approaches to it, Mullā Ṣadrā has never provided a human-oriented and non-divine interpretation of this position. Rather, through granting principliality and attending to the narrative and Kalāmi beliefs in Shi‘ism, he emphasizes the ultra-human and divine status of this position when explaining the narrations in kitāb al-ḥujjah as a section of al-Kāfī. When discussing the concept of Imāmah and while posing and criticizing the views of various Islamic sects regarding the problem of appointment, Mullā Ṣadrā acknowledges that the existence of Imam is necessary based on the principle of the noblest possibility. Moreover, he refers to certain features and privileges in order to demonstrate that Imām is the proof of God. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
6 - A Comparison of the Body-Soul Relationship in Philosophical Behaviorism and Sadrian Philosophy
Naeimeh Najmi Nejad Morteza RezaeeThe discussion of the relationship between the soul and body has always been a challenging problem. The most important problem with this discussion is the quality of the relationship between the soul as an immaterial existence with the body as a material existence. Many MoreThe discussion of the relationship between the soul and body has always been a challenging problem. The most important problem with this discussion is the quality of the relationship between the soul as an immaterial existence with the body as a material existence. Many thinkers have presented some theories in response to this problem. Following a descriptive-analytic approach, the present study examines and compares behaviorism, which provides some of the important theories in the philosophy of the mind, with the view of Mullā Ṣadrā as the most prominent Islamic Philosopher. The findings of the study indicate that both behaviorist and Mullā Ṣadrā believe in the oneness of the soul and body. However, behaviorists conceive of the soul and mental states as nothing but external human behavior. This approach in fact rejects the immateriality of the soul and its mental states, while Mullā Ṣadrā considers the relationship between the body and the soul as integration through unification based on some of his own principles including the graded trans-substantial motion and the soul’s corporeal origination. In his view, the soul, while being a single substance, enjoys both a material and corporeal level and different levels of immateriality – including Ideal and rational types – because of its graded nature. In other words, there is a single conjunctive truth that appears in the form of the body at lower levels and as the soul at higher levels. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
7 - Prerequisites and Features of Transcendent Criminal Politics
Mohammad Mirzaei Iman AminiCriminal policy entails scientific planning and practical prudence in dealing with criminal phenomena. Since it is related to criminal acts and events, it is influenced by the existing norms and values in society and must be organized accordingly. In a society or system MoreCriminal policy entails scientific planning and practical prudence in dealing with criminal phenomena. Since it is related to criminal acts and events, it is influenced by the existing norms and values in society and must be organized accordingly. In a society or system in which religious ideologies and values are dominant, one cannot expect the necessary efficiency from imported policies or reports rooted in the principles accepted in their sources of origin. Therefore, it is of great importance to develop a model of criminal policy that conforms to the prevalent principles and values in the target society. Transcendent criminal policy is theoretically rooted in Mullā Ṣadrā’s Transcendent Philosophy. This model, in addition to its inclusiveness regarding the provision of material and worldly advantages, unlike the common criminal policies, enjoys some metaphysical and spiritual dimensions that conform to Islamic religious beliefs and teachings and common fiṭrī (intrinsic) and human features. The ultimate goal of this policy is to enhance the luminous development of individuals and society and, at best, provide for Man’s happiness, and guide them on their path to gaining proximity to God. The present paper, similar to an Introduction, aims to explain the features and elements of this model based on the existing laws in the country. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
8 - Specificity of Attaining the Station of Perfect Man in Mullā Ṣadrā’s View: Arguments and Consequences
Maryam Ahmadi Sahar Kavandi Mohsen JahedOne of the most comprehensive studies in the Sadrian philosophical system pertains to the field of anthropology. Moreover, one of the manifestations of the comprehensiveness of this discussion is dealing with the nature and place of the perfect Man in the order of being MoreOne of the most comprehensive studies in the Sadrian philosophical system pertains to the field of anthropology. Moreover, one of the manifestations of the comprehensiveness of this discussion is dealing with the nature and place of the perfect Man in the order of being and its referents and worldly and other-worldly functions, which have been explored in several studies. However, what they have all neglected is the attention to the reasons of the specific nature of this station and its consequences in this school of philosophy. It seems that the attention to this point can grant more depth to anthropological discussions in the Transcendent Philosophy and Islamic philosophy. Accordingly, this study aims to provide an analytic account of the reason for the uniqueness of this station in Mullā Ṣadrā’s works. Here, while analyzing the factors affecting the emergence and perfection of human beings through difference of souls within the framework of apriori and aposteriori multiplicity, the authors explain the restriction of this station to quite a few people. The findings of this study indicate that the station of the perfect Man can be attained through the prophet’s invitation, obligation, courtesy, etc. Nevertheless, developing the highest levels of this station is not possible for all, which justifies the quality of the voluntary perfection of the Infallible Imāms (‘a) and the prophets (ṣ). Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
9 - A Comparative Study of the Views of Mullā Ṣadrā and ‘Allāmah Ṭabāṭabā’ī Regarding Ambiguous Verses in the Qur’an
Davood SaemiAccording to Mullā Ṣadrā and ‘Allāmah Ṭabāṭabā’ī, Qur’anic verses enjoy both exoteric and esoteric meanings. When dealing with ambiguous verses, one must focus on their exoteric meanings and not to ignore them. In the view of both philosophers, the understanding of ambi MoreAccording to Mullā Ṣadrā and ‘Allāmah Ṭabāṭabā’ī, Qur’anic verses enjoy both exoteric and esoteric meanings. When dealing with ambiguous verses, one must focus on their exoteric meanings and not to ignore them. In the view of both philosophers, the understanding of ambiguous or metaphorical verses is relative and depends on individuals’ virtues and level of knowledge. They believe that knowledgeable people know the different meanings of ambiguous verses and, in fact, do not see any ambiguity there. However, based on the theory of specific oneness, Mullā Ṣadrā contends that all levels of being, from the highest to the lowest, enjoy existential hierarchy. Therefore, he maintains that, without needing to interpret ambiguous verses or the idea of incarnation regarding the essence of the Almighty, one can maintain the exoteric meaning of the verses based on the philosophical-gnostic principles of the specific oneness of being and interpret the meanings of ambiguous verses based on their surface meanings. In this way, the word “ambiguous” is semantically expanded. Nevertheless, ‘Allāmah Ṭabāṭabā’ī believes in referring ambiguities to clear definitions and interprets ambiguous verses based on clear ones. He acknowledges the possibility of interpretation of all Qur’anic verses, whether ambiguous and straight forward, and states that all ambiguous verses can be clarified by referring to unambiguous ones. In this study, the author sides with Mullā Ṣadrā’s view in comparison to ‘Allāmah Ṭabāṭabā’ī’s because he finds it of a more solid and principled basis. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
10 - The Other and Individuation in Mullā Ṣadrā’s Philosophy
Zahra Karimi Majid Ziaei Ghahnavieh Alireza HasanpourThe problem of other was propounded for the first time in Western philosophy by Emmanuel Levinas and its efficiency in justifying several ethical principles is undeniable. Moreover, it seems that the majority of present issues and complications in social and internation MoreThe problem of other was propounded for the first time in Western philosophy by Emmanuel Levinas and its efficiency in justifying several ethical principles is undeniable. Moreover, it seems that the majority of present issues and complications in social and international relationships can be resolved through a profound consideration of this problem. This discussion has apparently been developed during the contemporary period; however, several early philosophical views and ideas are also capable of resolving the related issues. One of the early philosophical schools with such a potential is Mullā Ṣadrā’s school of thought, which comprises the principles that are based on his ontological thoughts. The employment of the principles of the Transcendent Philosophy as a method of living can at least lead to some changes in People’s worldviews. For example, by lining up some philosophical principles such as the principiality and gradation of existence and the theory of existents’ manifestation, a new definition can be provided for the principle of individuation. Moreover, through a comparison of the principle of individuation with the Sadrian oneness of being, a number of noteworthy conclusions can be derived from this discussion. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
11 - The Reasons Behind Lack of Moral Commitment in Mullā Ṣadrā’s View:Weakness of Belief, Desire, and Will Power
Mehdi ZamaniIn the view of the Transcendent Philosophy, knowledge, love, kindness, desire, and free will, similar to existence, exist at various levels in all existents, including in Man’s voluntary acts. Lack of moral commitment results from one of the following three factors: 1) MoreIn the view of the Transcendent Philosophy, knowledge, love, kindness, desire, and free will, similar to existence, exist at various levels in all existents, including in Man’s voluntary acts. Lack of moral commitment results from one of the following three factors: 1) weakness of moral beliefs (lack of perfect certainty and being heedless of existing beliefs); 2) weakness of desire (dominance of whimsical desires and forces and wrath over rational and moral enthusiasm), and 3) weakness of will power (weakness in making decisions and removing obstacles to the desired aim). Accordingly, moral commitment is realized through: 1) attaining the level of certainly and notifying others; 2) intensifying enthusiasm to the level of intellectual desire and delight, and 3) strengthening will power to make the right decision. Given the graded structure of the principles of voluntary act and the promotion and strengthening of the three levels of belief, desire, and will can consolidate the relationship among them and the realization of act will bring them closer to necessity. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
12 - Solutions of Mullā Hādī Sabziwārī and Ḥassanzādeh Āmulī to the Dilemma of Agent-by-Foreknowledge in Mullā Ṣadrā’s Philosophy
Naeimeh NajmiNejad Ahmad GhafariThe discussion of divine activity and the quality of the creation of existents has always been a challenging discussion, and different thinkers have provided different views, each based on their philosophical thoughts. Among them, Mullā Ṣadrā has sometimes acknowledged MoreThe discussion of divine activity and the quality of the creation of existents has always been a challenging discussion, and different thinkers have provided different views, each based on their philosophical thoughts. Among them, Mullā Ṣadrā has sometimes acknowledged agent-by-foreknowledge and sometimes agent-by-self-manifestation regarding the quality of God’s Agency in his various works. These two apparently contradictory views have made the commentators of his works to try to reveal his ultimate intention. This paper, which has been written following a descriptive analytic method, discusses the views of Mullā Hādī Sabziwārī and Ḥassanzādeh Āmulī as two of the important commentators of the Transcendent Philosophy and concludes that, through referring agent-by-self-manifestation to providence in its general sense, Sabziwārī tries to reconcile these two views. However, with his particular interpretation of the Peripatetics’ view of God’s agency, Ḥassanzādeh Āmulī equates agent-by-foreknowledge with agent-by-self-manifestation. Nevertheless, the authors believe that the main basis of agent-by-foreknowledge that has persuaded Mullā Ṣadrā to acknowledge it is active knowledge. For this reason, by accepting agent-by-foreknowledge, he agrees with such affairs as the addition of knowledge to essence, which the Peripatetics have suggested in this regard. Accordingly, we can conclude from Mullā Ṣadrā’s different statements about the quality of divine agency that his view is based on active knowledge, which also exists in agent-by-foreknowledge. Hence, he speaks of agency-by-foreknowledge in relation to God’s Activity, which is consistent with agent-by-self-knowledge. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
13 - Circularity of the Definitions of Nature and Truth of Time in Ibn Sīnā’s View
Hamid ShahriariIbn Sīnā has provided two definitions for time, which Khwājah Naṣīr al-Dīn Ṭūsī believes to be circular. The first definition has appeared in Ibn Sīnā’s al-Ishārāt and introduces time as incompatible priority and posteriority. Some philosophers, such as Āqā Ḥussayn Khān MoreIbn Sīnā has provided two definitions for time, which Khwājah Naṣīr al-Dīn Ṭūsī believes to be circular. The first definition has appeared in Ibn Sīnā’s al-Ishārāt and introduces time as incompatible priority and posteriority. Some philosophers, such as Āqā Ḥussayn Khānsārī, believe that the circular nature of Ibn Sīnā’s definition of time in this book poses no problem because the concept of time is an axiom, and the existence of circularity in the definition of an axiom is natural. His other definition has been given in al-Shifā. Here, the nature of time is defined in the sense of a measure of motion as divided into prior and posterior components. In this definition, time contains disjunctive quantity (time as the number of motion) in addition to continuous quantity (time as amount of motion). The present paper aims to provide a clear picture of the definition of the nature of time in Ibn Sīnā’s view in his al-Ishārāt and al-Shifā in al-Ṭabi’iyyāt chapter. Following an analytic comparative study of Ibn Sīnā’s works, the author concludes that Khwājah Naṣīr al-Dīn Ṭūsī’s perception of Ibn Sīnā’s definitions of the nature of time were not inconsistent and, rather, he intended to provide another analysis of the truth of time. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
14 - The Relationship Between Gratitude and Happiness in the Transcendent Philosophy
Nafiseh Ahl SarmadiMullā Ṣadrā believes that “gratitude” is a level and station that Man can attain and considers the knowledge and perception of the truth of gratitude to depend on anthropology. The three-fold pillars of gratitude in his view consist of knowledge, happiness, and act. Act MoreMullā Ṣadrā believes that “gratitude” is a level and station that Man can attain and considers the knowledge and perception of the truth of gratitude to depend on anthropology. The three-fold pillars of gratitude in his view consist of knowledge, happiness, and act. Act is the prerequisite for attaining happiness, which, in turn, is a prerequisite for acquiring knowledge. Therefore, knowledge is the basis for gratitude, and act functions as a prerequisite to it. Accordingly, one can say that a truly thankful person is always happy, which manifests itself in practice in the form of benevolence, generosity, and sympathy. The reason behind this happiness and kindness to all people is the belief in God and His Oneness. In the Transcendent Philosophy, God is the source of infinite happiness; therefore, any relationship with Him is the same as being connected to the source of happiness and joy. Therefore, it can be concluded that gratitude is based on philosophical principles in Mullā Ṣadrā’s works so that reaching the highest level of thankfulness is only possible through attaining wisdom. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
15 - A Critical Evaluation of Descartes’ Theory of Animal Mind Based on Sadrian Philosophy
Armin Mansouri Habibullah Danesh Shahraki zahra khazaieImmaterial spiritual life for animals and their possession of mental capabilities have always been a controversial topic for debate among philosophers. The existence of certain similarities between animals and human beings, irrespective of all their differences, has mad MoreImmaterial spiritual life for animals and their possession of mental capabilities have always been a controversial topic for debate among philosophers. The existence of certain similarities between animals and human beings, irrespective of all their differences, has made it difficult to provide an accurate explanation of the quality of animal life. Given his belief in the existence of two corporeal and immaterial intellectual substances for human beings, Descartes negates the existence of thought and intellection in animals for three reasons: lack of language, lack of creativity, and lack of awareness in animals. In other words, he only accepts the existence of corporeal life for animals and, thus, views animals as complex machines that lack mental life. This idea of Descartes is known as the “animal machine” notion. However, Mullā Ṣadrā analyzes animals in relation to the three material, Ideal, and intellectual levels of the world. Accordingly, he believes in the ideal immateriality of animal souls and explains mindfulness at the animal level based on this belief. Descartes’ animal machine hypothesis and the related three reasons are rejected based on the Ideal immateriality that Mullā Ṣadrā proves for animal souls. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
16 - Ontology of the Spirit of Meaning in the Holy Qur’ān in Mullā Ṣadrā’s View and its Impact on the Discussion of the Quality of Coining Words
Maryam Kashefi Atiyeh ZandiehThe principle of “coining words for the spirit of meaning in the Holy Qur’ān” in Mullā Ṣadrā’s works is closely related to his philosophy. Therefore, considering the Sadrian ontology as the basis, one can learn about the ontological applications of the meanings of words MoreThe principle of “coining words for the spirit of meaning in the Holy Qur’ān” in Mullā Ṣadrā’s works is closely related to his philosophy. Therefore, considering the Sadrian ontology as the basis, one can learn about the ontological applications of the meanings of words and, thus, the quality of attaining the knowledge of them. In Mullā Ṣadrā’s view, the world, the Qur’ān, and the holy prophetic existence are three dimensions of the world that share a single and simple existence at the level of their “unfolded existence”, “immediate divine word”, and “Mohammedan truth”. They have dispersed at the level of the lower kingdom and are manifested in the form of the world of particular Ideas, the verbal Qur’ān, and the existence of the Holy Prophet (ṣ), respectively, and then descend to the world of matter. Mullā Ṣadrā believes that each lower level is an example of a higher level, and words are not an exception to this rule. In order to access the highest level of divine words, one should employ the principle of coining words for different types of meanings (absolute and general). Mullā Ṣadrā’s definition of spirit of meaning conforms with his definition of the natural universal and Platonic Ideas. The application and generalizability of the spirit of meaning in comparison to the natural universal originates in the limitedness of quiddity, while, in comparison to Platonic universals, it originates in existential amplitude. A comparison of the spirit of meaning and natural universals indicates that coinage of words is a human phenomenon, and the criterion for coining each word is the truth. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
17 - Myth of Peripatetic Hyle in the Transcendent Philosophy
Mohammad Reza NoornohammadiThe philosophical analysis of the changes in natural bodies led Peripatetic philosophers to the notion of hyle, which is a substance that essentially lacks actuality and remains fixed in the process of change. Peripatetic philosophers have employed this notion in many p MoreThe philosophical analysis of the changes in natural bodies led Peripatetic philosophers to the notion of hyle, which is a substance that essentially lacks actuality and remains fixed in the process of change. Peripatetic philosophers have employed this notion in many philosophical debates, including the famous division of existents into material and immaterial groups. Nevertheless, despite their emphasis upon this notion, Suhrawardī denied the existence of the Peripatetic hyle. Mullā Ṣadrā has not explicitly explained his views of hyle in any of his works; however, a careful study of his works and, particularly, philosophical principles indicates that the peripatetic hyle is not acceptable in the Transcendent Philosophy. In fact, some contemporary philosophers have even found the idea of the Peripatetic hyle to be self-contradictory within the framework of the Transcendent Philosophy. At the same time, the words hyle and matter are frequently used in Mullā Ṣadrā’s works because, apart from cases in which he explains the views of earlier philosophers, he also believes in a kind of hyle that should be called the “analytic hyle”. This kind of hyle is a secondary philosophical intelligible that is abstracted from the analysis of the trans-substantial motion. It bears a unity with from and can be used as a basis for the division of existence into fixed and fluid categories. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
18 - Trans-Substantial Motion of the Soul and its Consequences in the Sadrian Study of the Soul
Rouhollah Souri Hamed KomijaniThe soul goes through elemental, natural, mineral, vegetative, animal (Ideal immateriality), and rational (intellectual immateriality) stages in the cradle of its fluid existence. Therefore, the soul’s belonging to the body is a part of its identity and, thus, it can be MoreThe soul goes through elemental, natural, mineral, vegetative, animal (Ideal immateriality), and rational (intellectual immateriality) stages in the cradle of its fluid existence. Therefore, the soul’s belonging to the body is a part of its identity and, thus, it can be said that the soul is a material-immaterial substance. Given the existential fluidity of the soul, Mullā Ṣadrā has reinterpreted its various characteristics. Accordingly, the soul’s faculties are levels of its continuous truth that flourish one after each other. Moreover, natural death is the result of the soul’s ontological gradedness and losing interest in elemental body. At some stages of this ontological becoming, the soul attains immateriality and, hence, its survival after death become necessary. Because gradedness and, as a result, attaining immateriality are essential to the soul, its incarnation and return to elemental body is unjustifiable. Therefore, after death, the soul begins its purgatorial life in an Ideal body that is created based on its moral habits, and the natural form that is created in the matter of elemental body opens the path towards purgatorial perfection before it. One of the most important consequences of the soul’s trans-substantial motion is its entrance into divine worlds and annihilation in active, attributive, and essential oneness. Interestingly enough, based on the trans-substantial motion, this significant achievement is possible at the moment of the soul’s belonging to elemental body and is not necessarily limited to the moment of occurrence of natural death. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
19 - Laws of Nature as Strategies for Man’s Happiness
S. Mohammad KhameneiThe world and nature have been created relying on certain divine rules and principles. Based on the Divine Will and pre-ordination, there is a mutual relationship and interaction not only between all the components of the world of being but also between them and the who MoreThe world and nature have been created relying on certain divine rules and principles. Based on the Divine Will and pre-ordination, there is a mutual relationship and interaction not only between all the components of the world of being but also between them and the whole world of creation. As a member of this world, Man can both affect it and be affected by it. This process has been predestined based on the main law and principle of this world, that is, the commensurability of “being” and “good”. Where there is good, there is being (and vice versa), and where there is no good, there is evil or non-being (and vice versa). The only way of attaining true happiness for Man is living in harmony with the system of nature and its governing rules. The divine tradition or the laws of nature are such that any deviation from them will lead to evil, misery, loss, calamity, disease, etc. The world (macro-anthropo) reacts to the good and bad deeds of human beings (micro-anthropo). Sin, which means any disobedience to the Divine orders or transgression from the laws of creation and nature, results in human misery and cruelty and will be followed by Divine punishment and torture. This is the point at which God’s glorious names and attributes are manifested. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
20 - Principles of Sensibility of Being in the Transcendent Philosophy and its Effects on the Sustainable Development of the Environment
Laela Nikooienejad Ahmad ShahgoliThe environmental crisis of the last two centuries is one of the most important problems threatening the human society and life. Accordingly, human beings should find a way to control the wrong and sometimes immoral acts that damage the environment. Mullā Ṣadrā believes MoreThe environmental crisis of the last two centuries is one of the most important problems threatening the human society and life. Accordingly, human beings should find a way to control the wrong and sometimes immoral acts that damage the environment. Mullā Ṣadrā believes that nature, objects, and inanimate bodies enjoy knowledge and intelligence; therefore, the Transcendent Philosophy follows a holy approach to nature. Accordingly, in this paper, the authors have tried to highlight the moral beliefs that could lead to sustainable development in the environment by emphasizing their divine-philosophical bases through resorting to firsthand sources by and on Mullā Ṣadrā and employing rational analysis and explanation. The findings of this study indicate that a scrutinizing rereading of the sources on the Transcendent Philosophy, which provides a comprehensive philosophical interpretation of various issues based on Qur’ānic verses and traditions, can contribute to protecting the environment. This is because, based on some principles such as the principiality of existence, gradedness of existence, commensurability of the cause and effect, and the nature’s being a manifestation of higher worlds, it is possible to regain the lost respect for nature and its dignity, which have been developed based on the holy perspective of religions and philosophical schools, and prevent the destruction of nature and, following it, the death of human life. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
21 - Graded Introversion and Moral Motivation in the Philosophy of Action in Mullā Ṣadrā
Mehdi ZamaniFollowing a descriptive-analytic approach, the present study investigates Mullā Ṣadrā’s view of moral motivation. He has provided two types of explanation, quiddative and graded, for man’s source of motivation for doing acts in his works. In his quiddative explanation, MoreFollowing a descriptive-analytic approach, the present study investigates Mullā Ṣadrā’s view of moral motivation. He has provided two types of explanation, quiddative and graded, for man’s source of motivation for doing acts in his works. In his quiddative explanation, in line with his preceding philosophers, he attributes motivation to the first loop of the origins of emanation of act, that is, cognition and imagination. However, in most cases, he believes that the main source of motivation is related to the second loop or desire. The desire emerging after perception (concept and judgement) and before free will (consensus and resolution) motivates the doer. Accordingly, the doer might perceive and affirm the goodness of the act but not feel enthusiastic about it. However, it is also possible that they do not put their mind to doing the act they feel enthusiastic about. Hence, a contingent relation develops among the three stages. Based on the ontological and graded explanation, there is a profoundly essential unity among perception, desire, and free will, which can be interpreted as “graded introversion”. Mullā Ṣadrā’s belief in three factors, including the flow of knowledge, desire, and free will all through existence; the single identity of the soul and the unity of potentials and acts, and the dual cognitive-motivational role of practical reason, are the reasons that can contribute to explaining this type of introversion in his approach. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
22 - Mullā Ṣadrā’s Strategies for Reducing Death Anxiety and its Philosophical Principles
Manouchehr Shaminezhad Hossein Atrak Mohsen JahedThe present study investigates Mullā Ṣadrā’s strategies for treating death anxiety and its philosophical foundations. It also aims to suggest some philosophical and ontological strategies to decrease modern Man’s anxiety when thinking about death based on some of Mullā MoreThe present study investigates Mullā Ṣadrā’s strategies for treating death anxiety and its philosophical foundations. It also aims to suggest some philosophical and ontological strategies to decrease modern Man’s anxiety when thinking about death based on some of Mullā Ṣadrā’s philosophical principles, such as the principiality of existence, the union of the intellect with intelligible, the trans-substantial motion, theism, religiosity, and believing in the Hereafter. According to Sadrian philosophy, Man’s life is meaningful and purposeful, and being has been created based on divine emanation. The human soul is corporeally-originated; however, its essence changes because of its union with the intelligible and its own trans-substantial motion and attains higher levels of being though going through different existential grades. This developmental move continues until reaching the origin of being and does not end with death. It also grants meaning to Man’s life and decreases their death anxiety. Mullā Ṣadrā is an existential philosopher who advocates a supernaturalist, theistic, and procedural approach to death. The reality of death in Mullā Ṣadrā’s philosophy is a part of Man’s process of existential development. Some of the strategies that can be inferred from his philosophy to reduce death anxiety include following a teleological approach to the world, being’s view of God as pure connection, believing in the Hereafter and Man’s resurrection after corporeal death, advocating ontological evolution, and having a developmental view of death. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
23 - Necessity of Social Life and Man’s Need to Religion in Mullā Ṣadrā and Ibn Miskawayh
Naser Mohamadi Gholamhossen Khedri Khalil MollajavadiThe present paper investigates the necessity of the development of social life in the view of Mullā Ṣadrā and Ibn Miskawayh in the domain of religion’s response to human needs following a comparative approach. Mullā Ṣadrā believes that the necessity of fulfilling human MoreThe present paper investigates the necessity of the development of social life in the view of Mullā Ṣadrā and Ibn Miskawayh in the domain of religion’s response to human needs following a comparative approach. Mullā Ṣadrā believes that the necessity of fulfilling human needs warrants the existence of law and Shar‘ as well as an individual as a prophet. Following a philosophical approach, he explains that the concept of human species is realized in their “collective identity” outside their mind and in their social schematism. Ibn Miskawayh’s standpoint, which is worth more deliberation and is perhaps unique, indicates that man’s main need for collective life is due to the necessity of responding to their intrinsic need for mutual “love and affection”, while he refers to satisfying material needs at a later level. In his view, love provides the basis for life and formation of human collective society. Mullā Ṣadrā’s view enjoys a rational and philosophical essence, whereas Ibn Miskawayh’s explanation is merely based on the presence of love and affection among human beings. However, both thinkers acknowledge that the revealed religious theorems can respond to all human worldly and other-worldly needs. Nevertheless, none of them directly and clearly emphasizes the necessity of the purification of the soul for the prophet and the divine perfect Man. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
24 - A Study of the Quality of Abstraction of Philosophical Concepts Based on the Principles of the Transcendent Philosophy
Mojtaba Rahmanian Koushkaki Mohsen Heidari Seyyed Mohammad MusawyThe common view is that philosophical concepts, such as existence, unity, causality, and necessity, have no objective existence and, even if they have, Man is not capable of perceiving them. This is because Man’s encounter with the world of sensibles is through the sens MoreThe common view is that philosophical concepts, such as existence, unity, causality, and necessity, have no objective existence and, even if they have, Man is not capable of perceiving them. This is because Man’s encounter with the world of sensibles is through the senses, which can only perceive sensible qualities of objects and are not even capable of perceiving all accidents. Based on these two points, the abstraction of philosophical concepts from external sensible realities seems to be totally impossible. Following a descriptive-analytic method and based on some of the principles of the Transcendent Philosophy, including the subsistence and affirmation of philosophical concepts in the outside and the quality of the existence of the soul and the quality of perceiving it, this study is intended to demonstrate that philosophical concepts are attained directly and without any intermediary from the heart of sensory perceptions. Although this theory does not exist in Mullā Ṣadrā’s works, his philosophical principles fittingly provide the context for such an explanation. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
25 - A Study of the Principles of Sadrian Philosophy in Imām Khomeinī’s Lifestyle
Sayyed Hamed Onvani Vahideh Fakhar Noghani Sayyed Hossain Sayyed Mosavi Sayyed Mortaza Hosseini ShahrudiPolitical lifestyle refers to the particular method of encountering the most important duties of the realm of political life that develops in order to achieve political purposes. Given the important role of ontological principles in constructive approaches to lifestyle, MorePolitical lifestyle refers to the particular method of encountering the most important duties of the realm of political life that develops in order to achieve political purposes. Given the important role of ontological principles in constructive approaches to lifestyle, their analysis in the political lifestyle of Imām Khomeinī, as an individual with his own style, seems necessary. Accordingly, this paper is intended to investigate the effects of the principles of the Transcendent Philosophy in relation to the principiality of existence, goodness of existence, unity of being and plurality in its manifestation, simplicity of existence, and the place of perfect Man in the levels of being based on Imām Khomeinī’s political lifestyle. An analytic library study of the publications on Imām Khomeinī’s life and character indicates that commitment to the principles of Sadrian philosophy played a significant role in the development and consolidation of his political lifestyle. Moreover, given the gradation at three levels of the “political lifestyle of the perfect Man”, “the political lifestyle of the divine leaders influenced by the perfect Man”, “the lifestyle of people who follow the political life of divine leaders”, Imām Khomeinī, as a figure believing in the truth of the perfect Man, managed to have the support and trust of a huge number of people through insisting on providing for the conditions required for people’s access to the perfect Man’s lifestyle in order to attain a new style of transcendent political life. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
26 - Foundations of Cosmological and Anthropological Meanings of Life in Sadrian Philosophy and Existential Psychotherapy
shahnaz shayanfar elaheh ghalehThe meaning of life is one of the most important concerns of modern Man and one of the fate-making problems among contemporary philosophers, psychotherapists, and moral philosophers. The present study investigates the meaning of life in the view of Mullā Ṣadrā, as a Mus MoreThe meaning of life is one of the most important concerns of modern Man and one of the fate-making problems among contemporary philosophers, psychotherapists, and moral philosophers. The present study investigates the meaning of life in the view of Mullā Ṣadrā, as a Muslim philosopher, and Irvin Yalom, as a contemporary Western existentialist psychotherapist. The focal question of this paper is what the cosmological and anthropological foundations of the meaning of life in the views of Mullā Ṣadrā and Yalom are. The findings of this study indicate that God appears with beautiful and glorious manifestations as the end of being, which grants meaning to being, and Man is present with their ontological gradedness, immateriality, and plurality. By contrast, in Yalom’s philosophy, the centrality of God is denied; the world is void of meaning, and it is Man who must grant meaning to life. Therefore, it can be said that one deals with the unveiling of meaning in Mullā Ṣadrā’s philosophy and the creation of meaning in Yalom’s philosophy. Regarding the problem of the meaning of life, Mullā Ṣadrā’s approach is teleological and divine, while Yalom’s approach is non-teleological and atheistic. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
27 - An Analysis of the Ascension of the Holy Prophet (ṣ) of Islam Based on the Philosophical Principles of Ibn Sīnā and Mullā Ṣadrā
Maryam Samadieh Abdulrazzaq HessamifarIn the view of Ibn Sīnā and Mullā Ṣadrā, the Prophet’s ascension was an indisputable truth, and those who deny it are among unbelievers and deviators from the right path. Ibn Sīnā believes that the Prophet’s ascension was not corporeal because the body cannot traverse a MoreIn the view of Ibn Sīnā and Mullā Ṣadrā, the Prophet’s ascension was an indisputable truth, and those who deny it are among unbelievers and deviators from the right path. Ibn Sīnā believes that the Prophet’s ascension was not corporeal because the body cannot traverse a very long distance in a moment. Thus, it was intellectual and spiritual. In other words, as the route of the Prophet’s ascension passed through immaterial worlds, one cannot consider this journey a corporeal one. However, Mullā Ṣadrā explicitly speaks of the corporeal quality of the Prophet’s presence in ascension. He believes in the corporeal presence of the Prophet (ṣ) in his heavenly journey as well as the corporeal nature of what happened to him in the night of ascension. Nevertheless, their corporeality is in proportion to the worlds in which the Prophet (ṣ) travelled. Mullā Ṣadrā considers three types of body for human beings: rational, Ideal, and elemental. He maintains that earthly journey is of the elemental type, and heavenly journey is of the Ideal and rational types. He also believes that the Prophet (ṣ) wore the corporeal attire in conformity with the worlds to and through which he travelled. This paper investigates and analyzes the quality of the Prophet’s presence in the night of ascension and the otherworldly things that happened to him during that night following a descriptive-analytic approach and based on the views of Ibn Sīnā and Mullā Ṣadrā. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
28 - Mullā Ṣadrā and the Problem of Imaginary Time
Huda Habibimanesh shamsollah seraj Maijd ZiaeiOne of the most controversial philosophical-kalami issues in the history of Islamic philosophy has always been the analysis of the problem of the origination and pre-eternity of the world. Most Muslim mutikallimūn believe in the temporal origination of the world and con MoreOne of the most controversial philosophical-kalami issues in the history of Islamic philosophy has always been the analysis of the problem of the origination and pre-eternity of the world. Most Muslim mutikallimūn believe in the temporal origination of the world and consider the pre-universe time to be “imaginary”. As the most supreme philosopher of the Transcendent Philosophy, Mullā Ṣadrā has also discussed imaginary time in different places in his works. He has adopted two different approaches to this theory but does not express his view explicitly. The present study explains Mullā Ṣadrā’s opinions regarding the theory of imaginary time and his two approaches in this respect in order to answer the question of what his ultimate standpoint regarding imaginary time is. In order to accomplish this task, the authors have referred to the scattered discussions in his works and, after studying and explaining the relationships between them and combining them with each other, have provided a description of Mullā Ṣadrā’s ultimate view. Although in some places he tries to justify the theory of imaginary time based on his own principles, given his explicit statements on negating an intermediary between the world of being and Almighty Necessary as well as his demonstration of the existence of time and rejection of the arguments of deniers of time, it can be concluded that his ultimate view here is the negation of imaginary time. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
29 - Ontological Principles of Man’s Identity in the Transcendent Philosophy
Ali Zamani Kharaei J‘afar Shanazari Seyyed Mahdi Emami Jome‘eIdentity is one of the most important key terms in humanities in the contemporary world. Similar to other theoretical concepts, it originates in metaphysical principles and cannot go beyond them. A study of the principles of the Transcendent Philosophy with reference to MoreIdentity is one of the most important key terms in humanities in the contemporary world. Similar to other theoretical concepts, it originates in metaphysical principles and cannot go beyond them. A study of the principles of the Transcendent Philosophy with reference to the attention to the truth of existence and the related principles reveals that Man’s true identity is the same as its status, which is simple and, while enjoying stability in character, is gradual and fluid. Accordingly, in the course of its motion, the human identity experiences different changes and attains several scientific and practical perfections that result in different effects and levels with each having its own specific attributes and names. This perception of Man is not only consistent with the realities of human life and Iranian-Islamic culture but also capable of resolving many of the concerns and challenges in modern sciences in relation to anthropology and identity crisis. The present paper examines the ontological principles of the Transcendent Philosophy in relation to Man’s identity and its effects.In the course of its movement, this existence experiences various changes and achieves many scientific and practical perfections, which causes it to have various effects and degrees in such a way that various attributes and characteristics are obtained from each of its stages. This recognition of human beings is not only compatible with the realities of human life and Iranian-Islamic culture, but also eliminates many concerns and challenges of new sciences in the field of anthropology and identity crisis. This article points to the ontological foundations of transcendental wisdom and its relationship with human identity and examines its results. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
30 - Levels of Faith in Mullā Ṣadrā’s Transcendent Philosophy and Stages of the Growth of Faith in Fowler’s View
Mehdi Zamani Ziba Shafiee khoozaniMullā Ṣadrā has discussed the levels of faith based on the principles of the Transcendent Philosophy, particularly the trans-substantial motion and gradation of the levels of existence, Man, and knowledge. He divides faith sometimes into imitative, demonstrative, and ob MoreMullā Ṣadrā has discussed the levels of faith based on the principles of the Transcendent Philosophy, particularly the trans-substantial motion and gradation of the levels of existence, Man, and knowledge. He divides faith sometimes into imitative, demonstrative, and obvious types and sometimes into external and true, verbal, semantic, real (demonstrative or unveiled) and drowning into the light of oneness types. In his view, the highest level of faith belongs to masters of theoretical and practical intellect, only a few of whom reach the level of divine vicegerency and the perfect Man. James Fowler, the contemporary theologist and psychologist, explains the growth of faith at six stages: 1) intuitive projective faith, 2) mythic-literal faith, 3) synthetic-conventional, 4) individuative reflective faith, 5) conjunctive faith, and global faith. He does so under the influence of certain modern Christian theologians, such as Tillich, and psychologists, such as Piaget, Kohlberg, and Erikson. Fowler believes that figures like Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa exemplify the sixth level of faith in the light of their cognitive and moral breadth of insight. Here, following a descriptive analytic method, the authors initially explain Mullā Ṣadrā’s view regarding the levels of faith and Fowler’s view of the stages of the growth of faith and then compare, contrast, and evaluate the two views. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
31 - A Comparison of Anthropological Principles of Mullā Ṣadrā and Maslow
Mohammad Azadi Seyyed Mohammadali Dibaji Masoud AzarbaijaniMaslow, as a humanist psychologist, and Mullā Ṣadrā, as one of the greatest thinkers of Islamic tradition, have provided different views regarding the whatness of human beings. Given the fact that both thinkers have paid particular attention to explaining the required f MoreMaslow, as a humanist psychologist, and Mullā Ṣadrā, as one of the greatest thinkers of Islamic tradition, have provided different views regarding the whatness of human beings. Given the fact that both thinkers have paid particular attention to explaining the required features and pre-requisites for Man’s perfection itself and the process of Man’s perfection as well as the characteristics of perfect Man, a comparison of their anthropological principles can yield some valuable results. Some of the shared principles of these two philosophers’ include enjoying essential dignity; free will; the ability to move towards perfection, and pre-mordial nature and accepting spiritual experiences and the infinity of the process of Man’s perfection. However, they have provided various interpretations of these principles. Moreover, they have different views regarding the centrality of God in Man’s life, existential dimensions, fundamental needs, stages of Man’s growth, end of Man’s perfection, and characteristics of Perfect Man. Mullā Ṣadrā has managed to present a system based on cognitive principles through benefitting from religious, gnostic, and philosophical fundamental rules, synthesizing them with each other, and introducing a comprehensive and consistent portray of Man’s truth. An all-inclusive and meticulous analysis of such principles can be of great value to related discussions in modern philosophy. A synthesis of gnosis, religion, and reasoning is one of the most important features of Mullā Ṣadrā’s philosophical thoughts, which affect all the acceptable elements of Man’s Whatness. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
32 - Freedom from the Manifestations of Idols of Ignorance: Elements of Dogmatism and the Opposing Strategies in Mullā Ṣadrā’s Philosophy
Hashem Qorbani Rohollah AdinehIgnorance and dogmatism have always existed in various historical periods of epistemological disciplines and revealed their faces in their opposition to knowledge. Ignorance appears through separation from the necessities of knowledge. The spread of ignorance in the cul MoreIgnorance and dogmatism have always existed in various historical periods of epistemological disciplines and revealed their faces in their opposition to knowledge. Ignorance appears through separation from the necessities of knowledge. The spread of ignorance in the culture of social relationships threatens the place of scientific resources and epistemological cradles. Through breaking the idols of ignorance, Mullā Ṣadrā writes about the objective manifestations of such idols in society. He believes that the promotion of social relationships demands the creation of cradles for knowledge, and any kind of ignorance in this regard will result in the dominance of epistemological inefficiency. Through a semantic analysis of ignorance, Mullā Ṣadrā talks about one of its most obvious manifestations, which is dogmatism. He maintains that moral norms and epistemological necessities fade away in a dogmatism rooted in ignorance. The criticism of ignorance and reproach of ignorants in Mullā Ṣadrā’s portrayal of this phenomenon is manifested based on four elements: 1) lack of verification of mental understanding in conformity to reality, 2) lack of derivation of comparative elements particularly in the light of its functional dimensions such as unjust evaluation, 3) mental stagnation, and 4) defective social competition, which refers to the wrong quality of efficiency. When criticizing the culture of his time, Mullā Ṣadrā refers to the rise of ignorance behind the guise of knowledge as an important epistemological pest. In all his criticisms of this stagnant process, he introduces the weakness of true knowledge in society, spread of social foolishness, corruption of social justice, and frailty of the epistemological foundations of society as its most important outcomes. He propounds the treatment of ignorance in the light of a wise method of living while attending to its necessary elements. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
33 - Explaining Horizontal Pluralities in the Vertical Worlds of Existence Based on Sadrian Philosophy
Ali Sedaghat Hasan FathzadehBased on the principle of the gradation of existence in Sadrian philosophy, the world of being enjoys a vertical system that extends from the highest point to the lowest levels, and each existent possesses a specific degree of existential intensity and weakness. The acc MoreBased on the principle of the gradation of existence in Sadrian philosophy, the world of being enjoys a vertical system that extends from the highest point to the lowest levels, and each existent possesses a specific degree of existential intensity and weakness. The acceptance of this principle in Sadrian philosophy alongside one’s observations in our surrounding world of horizontal existents with no cause-effect relation, such as a stone and a tree, gave rise to an important question in the post-Sadrian period: How can these two truths come together in one place? The responses to these questions during the last 400 years have resulted in some disagreements among commentators of Mullā Ṣadrā’s works. In this study, the authors aim to demonstrate that the acceptance of the vertical and graded system of existence is not in conflict with accepting horizontal pluralities, and what is accepted in Sadrian graded existence is a differential system among all existence and not merely a cause-effect system. The key to the understanding of horizontal pluralities in Sadrian philosophy must be found in the discussion of archetypes and their additions. In presenting his own system of emanations, Mullā Ṣadrā has been greatly influenced by Suhrawardī’s philosophy and defended the quality of the emanation of archetypes at different occasions. Archetypes are the same horizontal intellects the acceptance of which is equal to resolving the problem of horizontal pluralities in all vertical worlds of existence. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
34 - Pentagonal Model of Knowledge Sources and their Comparative Order in Sadrian and Cartesian Structure of Knowledge
Hassan Rahbar Kazim Mosakhany Eshaq Asoodeh Hamid EskandariEpistemology, which deals with the possibility, whatness, sources, and realm of knowledge, bases one of its most important principles on discovering Man’s sources of knowledge. Contemporary epistemologists refer to five sources of knowledge for human beings: sense perce MoreEpistemology, which deals with the possibility, whatness, sources, and realm of knowledge, bases one of its most important principles on discovering Man’s sources of knowledge. Contemporary epistemologists refer to five sources of knowledge for human beings: sense perception, reason, introspection, testimony, and memory. Descartes, as a philosopher of the Western world, and Mullā Ṣadrā, as a philosopher of the world of Islam, have provided some theories regarding the problem of knowledge, particularly its sources. Their views are compatible with the pentagonal model proposed by cotemporary epistemologist in this respect. Mullā Ṣadrā and Descartes believe that knowledge acquisition begins with sense perception and ends in reason. Nevertheless, the difference is that, although reason in the Transcendent Philosophy is the last level of perception, it does not mark the end of the way, and it is intuition-based introspection that ends the acquisition of true knowledge. In the cognitive schools of Mullā Ṣadrā and Descartes, sense perception, intellect, and introspection are responsible for producing knowledge, testifying to its transfer, and functioning as social and general sources of knowledge, and memory is responsible for maintaining and safekeeping of knowledge. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
35 - A Critical Analysis of the Five Arguments of the Falsity of Infinite Regress of Efficient Causes in al-Asfār al-Arba‘ah
Maryam Khoshnevisan Seyyed Sadr al-Din Taheri Babak AbbasiThis study investigates and criticizes five of Mullā Ṣadrā’s main arguments for the falsity of the infinite regress of efficient causes. Given the fact that many philosophers use this principle in order to demonstrate the existence of the Necessary Being, a study of the MoreThis study investigates and criticizes five of Mullā Ṣadrā’s main arguments for the falsity of the infinite regress of efficient causes. Given the fact that many philosophers use this principle in order to demonstrate the existence of the Necessary Being, a study of the objections targeting its arguments is of great importance because of its relationship with proving the existence of God. In order to achieve the purpose of this study, four arguments have been examined and criticized separately, and the fifth argument has been referred back to the fourth in terms of content and method. These arguments include “limit and middle”, “conformity”, “the most concise and precise”, “correlation 1”, and “correlation 2” arguments. The criticisms of the arguments of the falsity of regress and the importance of the falsity of the regress of efficient causes in developing some of the arguments adduced to demonstrate the Divine Essence have provoked philosophers, both Islamic and Western, to seek for other arguments to prove the existence of God in order not to rely on the falsity of the regress of causes. It is worth noting that they have had some success in this regard. At the end of this paper, without discussing the arguments and while summarizing and concluding the remarks, the authors refer to two famous arguments: Mullā Ṣadrā’s argument of the righteous in Islamic philosophy and Anselm’s ontological argument in Western philosophy. These two arguments are semi-casual and semi-analytical because they are not based on any premise that needs to be proved. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
36 - Mullā Ṣadrā’s Defense of two Dialetheic Challenges in the Trans-Substantial Motion
Gholamali Hashemifar Mahdi AzimiAlthough the problem of motion has created various challenges in the history of philosophy by itself, the trans-substantial motion as the turning point of the Transcendent philosophy is prone to some additional challenges that can be followed in the manifest of dialethe MoreAlthough the problem of motion has created various challenges in the history of philosophy by itself, the trans-substantial motion as the turning point of the Transcendent philosophy is prone to some additional challenges that can be followed in the manifest of dialetheism. One of these challenges is the loss of the identity of subject in the context of motion and, following this, the realization of borderline-states and the appearance of a paradox known as the problem of ambiguity in philosophical literature. Such debates themselves lead to paradoxes that contemporary dialetheists consider as evidence for the existence of contradiction in the outside world. The manifestation of such challenges and their relationship with the trans-substantial motion is the focal problem of the present paper. Since any change in archetypal forms in the cradle of trans-substantial motion is of the gradual and continuous type rather than the sudden type, the absence of a borderline at various stages of motion paves the way for the truth of two different quiddities at the same time for one subject, which necessitates contradiction by itself. Following a critical descriptive analytic method, this study reveals that Mullā Ṣadrā has responded to both challenges. He has answered the identity challenge based on the idea of “matter with form” and referred the challenge of ambiguity to our perception’s negligence in matching quiddity to all modes of being. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
37 - Corporeal Origination of the Soul: A Comparative Study of the Views of Mullā Ṣadrā’s Commentators
Ebrahim Moslempour Angarabi Sohrab Haghighat Mansur ImanpourMullā Ṣadrā considered the soul corporeal at the stage of origination and spiritual at the stage of survival. In his view, corporal matter gradually moves through the levels of perfection in the light of its trans-substantial motion until it reaches the level of immater MoreMullā Ṣadrā considered the soul corporeal at the stage of origination and spiritual at the stage of survival. In his view, corporal matter gradually moves through the levels of perfection in the light of its trans-substantial motion until it reaches the level of immateriality. This was considered a revolutionary theory in the history of Islamic philosophy. Given the significance of this problem, Mullā Ṣadrā’s commentators have paid particular attention to explaining the soul’s corporeal origination in Mullā Ṣadrā’s view; however, they have not always been unanimous in their ideas in this regard. Generally speaking, when explaining the meaning and nature of the corporeal origination of the soul, the commentators of Mullā Ṣadrā’s works can be divided into three groups: some of them believe that the word corporeal in this theory refers to the natural body; some others have interpreted it as something that bears a strong relation to the body, and the third group provides a general meaning for this word including both the natural body and immaterial existent. The main purpose of this study is to analyze and explain the views of these three groups and, thus, clarify the real meaning of the corporeal origination of the soul based on an analytic-descriptive method. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
38 - Effects of Ideal Immateriality in Islamic Philosophy
Shahabbodin Vahidi Mehrjardy Ehsan Kordi Ardakani Vahid GeramiA significant problem in Islamic philosophy is investigating the various dimensions and aspects of immateriality in the view of philosophers. One of the most important problems in the discussion of immateriality is the acceptance or rejection of Ideal immateriality, whi MoreA significant problem in Islamic philosophy is investigating the various dimensions and aspects of immateriality in the view of philosophers. One of the most important problems in the discussion of immateriality is the acceptance or rejection of Ideal immateriality, which has been one of the major concerns of Islamic philosophers in the course of history. Among them, Peripatetic philosophers accepted the world of intellects and rational immateriality by denying the Ideal world and Ideal immateriality and considered the faculty of imagination to be material. However, Suhrawardī and Mullā Ṣadrā tried to demonstrate the Ideal world based on their own philosophical principles. Suhrawardī believed in the disjunctive Ideal world, while Mullā Ṣadrā believed in the connected Ideal world and the immateriality of the faculty of imagination in addition to the disconnected Ideal world. The present study aims to examine the effects of Ideal immateriality in Islamic philosophy and its role in resolving philosophical intricate problems. Here, the authors have investigated eleven effects of Ideal immateriality in different philosophical fields including the resurrection of incomplete and average souls; lack of the need to study the spheres and accepting reincarnation in the discussion of resurrection; demonstration of corporeal resurrection; a correct and rational interpretation of vanity of sin, immateriality of animals’ souls and their resurrection; subsistence of particular perceptions after death; the link between the world of intellects and the material world; an accurate interpretation of the Holy Prophet’s dreams, unveilings, and ascent; a correct interpretation of the state of death, purgatory, and the hereafter; the interpretation of jinn in Illuminationist philosophy, and the subsistence of issuing forms for the soul. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
39 - A Critical Study of the Definition of Practice in Mullā Ṣadrā
Fatemeh Sadat Ketabchi Keramat VarzdarMullā Ṣadrā maintains that the distinction of practice from other acts pertains to its “intentional” nature. In his view, “intention” includes the free will accompanied with the second level of consciousness acting based on the purpose of practice. Therefore, not each v MoreMullā Ṣadrā maintains that the distinction of practice from other acts pertains to its “intentional” nature. In his view, “intention” includes the free will accompanied with the second level of consciousness acting based on the purpose of practice. Therefore, not each voluntary act is called “practice”; rather, practice is a voluntary act that emerges along with the second level consciousness based on the purpose of act. The results of this study, which was conducted following a descriptive-analytic method and through the analysis of conceptual concomitants of practice, indicate that Mullā Ṣadrā’s definition is not mutually exclusive. This is because, based on the example of “self-conscious” robot, one can assume an agent that enjoys free will and consciousness but its act is not intentional. Therefore, to complete the definition of practice, in addition to free will and consciousness, one needs a third element or the same “choice”. Mullā Ṣadrā does not officially recognize “choice” as the third element of practice and reduces it to the same consciousness and the free will. Nevertheless, the present study demonstrates that he is wrong, and “choice” in the sense of “the freedom to use the free will” must be added to the definition of practice. This study mainly aims to examine the quiddative structure of “practice” in the Transcendent Philosophy and distinguish “practice” from other similar affairs. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
40 - Whatness, Origin, and Purpose of Essentialist Education
Ahmadreza Azarbayejani Mohammdreza Sarmadi Faezeh Nateghi Alireza FaghihiMullā Ṣadrā places the “truth” in idealism alongside “truths” in realism in his Transcendent Philosophy. For him, truths are the same truth that reveals itself at different levels. In the view of gnostics, the four-fold spiritual journeys are a way for gnostic transcend MoreMullā Ṣadrā places the “truth” in idealism alongside “truths” in realism in his Transcendent Philosophy. For him, truths are the same truth that reveals itself at different levels. In the view of gnostics, the four-fold spiritual journeys are a way for gnostic transcendence that the wayfarer traverses at different stages. This journey begins from fiṭrah (primordial nature), which has different levels with nature as its lowest level. Therefore, this journey or, in a sense, this process of learning begins with nature and becomes complete through a hierarchy of stages. The level of learning includes the level of theory and practice at the same time. Mullā Ṣadrā’s philosophical methodology is based on revelation, rational demonstration, and intuition in the sense that all elements must perceive and confirm the reality and truth of a finding. Relying on the Transcendent Philosophy, the present study follows a demonstrative method in order to define essentialist education and explain its origin and purposes. In doing so, it benefits from a meta-analytic method to introduce the levels of essentialist learning, which is based on human fiṭrah. The purpose of this study is to present a conceptual model for education and learning whose philosophical foundations are not necessarily limited to one specific philosophical school. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
41 - Mullā Ṣadrā and the Role of Perfection-Seeking in the Rise of an Optimal Civilizational System
Ali Mostajeran Goortani Mahdi Ganjvar Seyyed Mahdi Emami JomePerfection-seeking is one of the important features and principles in the development of an optimal civilizational system. Relying on the human truth, which consists of appearance and innermost, Mullā Ṣadrā aims to portray a social system based on Man’s ontological pote MorePerfection-seeking is one of the important features and principles in the development of an optimal civilizational system. Relying on the human truth, which consists of appearance and innermost, Mullā Ṣadrā aims to portray a social system based on Man’s ontological potentials. The reason is that human beings, due to their primordial nature, are in pursuit of civil life, and their worldly and otherworldly goals can only be achieved in the context of a civilizational system. The purpose of the present study is to present a plan in relation to the development and reinforcement of a civilizational system relying on three principles that originate in Sadrian philosophy. The first deals with the origin of perfection-seeking and its effect on social life. The second is related to the issue of property and law, which pave the context for the rise of a civilizational system. The third principle pertains to the identification and suggestion of philosophical strategies for resolving civilizational crises. The purpose of examining these principles is to pay attention to human capabilities and potentials and discover how a perfection-seeking human develops the ability to attain supreme goals. The findings of this study indicate that the Transcendent philosophy, on the one hand, seeks to introduce a plan and program for optimizing the civilizational system through paying attention to Man’s ontological levels and potentials of a civilizational system. On the other hand, it can provide a desirable model for the flourishing of civilizational life through organizing Man’s achievements in nature in the light of science, power, and creativity. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
42 - Transcendence and Man’s Existential Width in the Ontological Systems of Mullā Ṣadrā and Heidegger
Fatemeh Ghadimi Paindeh Monireh Sayyid Mazhari Zeinab Sadat MirshamsiHeidegger has provided some innovative interpretations regarding several topics particularly in relation to human existence. His views about human beings are comparable to those of Mullā Ṣadrā in certain respects. One of them is their belief in man’s transcendence and e MoreHeidegger has provided some innovative interpretations regarding several topics particularly in relation to human existence. His views about human beings are comparable to those of Mullā Ṣadrā in certain respects. One of them is their belief in man’s transcendence and existential width. Both thinkers maintain that man is not an entity imprisoned in itself; man, who is the source of many possibilities and is aware of them, is subject to “becoming” and can become what they are not at the present time. In other words, man can go beyond the existing situation and attain transcendence. Although there is a similarity in this regard between the thoughts of these two thinkers, it should be considered that in Mullā Ṣadrā’s ontological system, the human soul, owing to its essential immateriality, always enjoys a perception and understanding of its identity as connected to an unlimited being and infinite truth. The human soul, which entails the whole limits of being in itself, tries to grant meaning to its existence through gaining proximity and similarity to that infinite truth in the course of traversing its out-of-itself stages. The soul’s developmental journey for reaching the ultra-rational stage also continues after death. By contrast, in Heidegger’s ontological system, truth is based on Dasein, whose being real indicates that it is the only existence in the world. It also means that, without being connected to a mysterious and transcendent power, Dasein always possesses a pre-knowledge of everything that comprises the world and continually perceives things with no cover at highest levels of clarity. Therefore, Dasein relies on itself in transcendence, the continuation of which is motivated by actualizing its existential possibilities until it dies. Death is the last existential possibility of Dasein upon which it attains its end. Manuscript profile