The Transcendent Philosophy of the Four Journeys of the Intellect
The Transcendent Philosophy of the Four Journeys of the Intellect (Arabic:الحكمة المتعالية في الاسفار العقلية الاربعة; Hikmat al-muta‘aliya fi-l-asfar al-‘aqliyya al-arba‘a), known as Four Journeys, is an extended compendium of
Author
Mulla Sadrā (Ṣadr ad-Dīn Muḥammad Shīrāzī (
Title
The complete title of the book is Al Hikmat Al Motaaliyyah fi Al Asfar Al Aghliyyah al Arbeah, which means, "Transcendent Philosophy on the Four Intellectual Journeys".[6]: p. 10 Mulla Sadra's transcendent theosophy drew from Kalam wisdom, Ishraqi philosophy and peripatetic philosophy. In Arabic, the word "asfar" means "journey". Mulla Sadra indicated four journeys of man. The book is sometimes referred to as Asfar. It is also sometimes referred to as Hekmate Motaalyyah. However, the book is not to be confused with Al Masa'el Al Qodsiyah.[7]
Key concepts
Asfar is representative of the greater part of Mulla Sadra's philosophical scholarship.[8] In its nine volumes, Asfar examines the philosophical opinions of the different schools of Islamic philosophy. In fact, the compendium acts as a history of Islamic philosophies.[9]
Mulla Sadra's work considers the nature of
: p. 114In the first volume of Asfar, Mulla Sadra focuses solely on an analysis of the concept of wujud ("being") and quiddity (essence).[2]: p. 294 The first volume has four "journeys". The first journey is concerned with the ontology or the doctrine of being. The second journey is concerned with substance and accidents. The third journey deals with God and his attributes and the fourth journey is about the soul of man and a discussion of man, his destiny, death and resurrection.[11]: p. 19
In the tenth section of the third journey of Asfar, Mulla Sadra expresses his opinion on the creation of world. He clarifies the meaning of the word "universe" and its place in time. Mulla Sadra says previous philosophers' premises and conclusions about the concept of eternity are correct. However, he says, the eternity of the world is not derived from them.[12]: p. 159
Mulla Sadra advocates a pantheistic doctrine of existence. He also says that God must have a pure existence.[11] Mulla Sadra points out the differences in his conclusions on this topic compared to those of Avicenna.[10]: p. 99
Glossaries and commentaries
Mirza Mahdi Ashtiyyani has made glossaries for Asfar.[2] In 1958, Allameh Muhammad Hosein Tabatabae'i and Allameh Muzaffar edited the book in a new version presented in nine volumes. In 1974, Javad Mosleh translated Asfar into Persian. In 1989, Ayatullah Abdullah Javadi-Amoli published a commentary in Persian entitled Raheeq-e Makhtum.[5]: p. 31
See also
References
- ^ "Mulla Sadra" in Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy at Plato website 9 June Accessed 25 November 2016.
- ^ ISBN 0791481557Accessed 18 July 2017.
- ^ ISBN 0745659071
- ^ Cooper J. Sadr al-Din Muhammad al-Shirazi,1571/2-1640 Muslim Philosophy website.
- ^ ISBN 1904063373
- ^ ISBN 1438443412
- ISBN 1136858598Accessed 25 November 2016.
- ^ Mulla Sadra Britannica website 20 July 1998. Accessed 20 July 1998.
- ISBN 1134008570Accessed 25 November 2013.
- ^ ISBN 1317093704
- ^ ISBN 0873953002
- ISBN 1599470977Accessed 25 November 2016.