بررسي تحليلي دوره فلسفي اصفهان و دو مكتب فلسفي آن

An Analytic Study of the Isfahan Philosophical Era and its Two Philosophical Schools

From the very beginning that Isfahan was chosen as the capital of the Safavid dynasty, a number of scholars and philosophers emigrated there and formed various academic centers in the domain of rational sciences. We know that, at least, three different centers were opened under the supervision of three prominent figures, including Shaykh Bahaʹi, Mir Damad, and Mir Fendereski. The last two characters, jointly, became the source of a specific philosophical trend; however, the differences between their insights and attitudes gradually increased and, finally, led to the development of two distinct philosophical schools. Mir Damadʹs philosophy expanded rapidly and went beyond the borderlines of Isfahan and, even, Iran, and its social, cultural and philosophical influences were much vaster than the trend introduced by Mir Fendereski. Nevertheless, we should take it into consideration that these two philosophical trends did not emerge as two distinct philosophical schools at the beginning of their development. Rather, they had their own ups and downs; their philosophical principles and bases were gradually strengthened, and, finally, they appeared in the form of two independent trends of thought. Considering its genuine characteristics, the Isfahan philosophical era opened a new chapter in the history of Islamic philosophy and was totally distinct from its preceding eras, including the Shiraz era.