مقوله علم در حكمت متعاليه

Category of Knowledge in the Mollasadraʹs Philosophy

The present study aims at considering the category of knowledge from the viewpoint of Mollasadra, the Muslim philosopher, and comparing it with that of Peripatetics. Mollasadra maintains that the reality of knowledge is of the origin of existence hence it is intuitive. He proves that the knowledge of existence depends on inner knowledge of the soul and the latter is possible only through mystical journey and spiritual training. Next, he concludes that knowledge of God has to be intuitive and "man" in contrary to other beings is not a Iimitted and substantial concept but is an ontological being enjoying the reality of "man" depending on the extent to which the stages of being have been actualized in him. As such, Mollasadraʹs theory, having its roots in Islamic mysticism, is similar to theories of Greek philosophers and differs considerably from those of Western ones except for the existentialist philosophers. Such a perception of the reality of knowledge reveals that knowledge and morality, theory and practice are not separated from each other but in fact speculative and practical philosophy are mutually interrelated. In other words, "man" in the world is not a passive being reflecting forms in his mind mirror-like but he is a creature capable of manifesting the existence and the reality of being so that making the boundary between Epistemology and Ontology disappeared.