Mulla Sadra

Mulla Sadra (572-1640) is perhaps the single most important and influential philosopher in the Muslim world in the last four hundred years. The author of over forty works, he sought to bring to life the whole heritage of Islamic thought, from philosophy to mysticism, and create a more flexible and conciliatory approach to the problems which seemed to dissociate reason from faith. In this wide-ranging profile, Sayeh Meisami reaches beyond historical narrative to assess the true impact of the man and his ideas. This thought provoking and comprehensive account is ideal for any philosopher wanting to uncover the life and thoughts of a man who represents the climax of intellectual tradition at a crucial point in the history of Islamic civilization.

 

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

 

1 THE MAN AND HIS WORK

Life and Works

Mulla Sadra and the School of Isfahan

Transcendental Philosophy

 

2 THE REALITY AND GRADATION OF BEING

Being and Quiddity

The Ground of Reality

Is Quiddity an Illusion?

Diversity in Unity

Unity in Diversity

 

3 THE UNITY OF THE KNOWER AND THE KNOWN

Knowledge and Being

The Hierarchy of Knowing

Knowledge by Presence

Knowledge and Realization

 

4 THE BEGINNING AND THE END

Substantial Motion

The Ground of Motion

Temporal Origination and Eternity

The Soul

The Resurrection

 

5 GOD AND HIS ATTRIBUTES

Theology in Transcendental Philosophy

The Existence of God

The Oneness of God

The Attributes

Divine Knowledge

Divine Will

Free Will

Prophets, Imams and Awliya

 

6 THE PHILOSOPHER'S LEGACY

Early Influence: Students and Critics

Mulla Sadra in the Qajar and Pahlavi Periods

After the Islamic Revolution

Outside Iran

 

Select Bibliography

Index