Knowledge and Power in the Philosophies of Ḥamīd al-Dīn Kirmānī and Mullā Ṣadrā Shīrāzī

Synopsis

This Is A Comparative Study Of Two Major Shi'i Thinkers, Hamid Al-din Kirmani From The Fatimid Egypt And Mulla Sadra From The Safavid Iran, Demonstrating The Mutual Empowerment Of Discourses On Knowledge Formation And Religio-political Authority In Certain Isma'ili And Twelver Contexts. The Book Investigates Concepts, Narratives, And Arguments That Have Contributed To The Generation And Development Of The Discourse On The Absolute Authority Of The Imam And His Representatives. To Demonstrate This, Key Passages From Primary Texts In Arabic And Persian Are Translated And Closely Analyzed To Highlight The Synthesis Of Philosophical, Sufi, Theological, And Scriptural Discourses. The Book Also Discusses The Discursive Influence Of Nasir Al-din Tusi As A Key To The Transmission Of Isma'ili Narratives Of Knowledge And Authority To Later Shi'i Philosophy And Its Continuation To Modern And Contemporary Times Particularly In The Narrative Of The Guardianship Of The Jurist In The Islamic Republic Of Iran. Machine Generated Contents Note: 1. Introduction -- 1.1. Philosophy And Authority In Shi'ism: Kirmani And Mulla Sadra -- 1.2. Notes On Method And Style -- Bibliography -- 2. Hamid Al-din Kirmani On The Human Soul And Knowledge -- 2.1. Hamid Al-din Kirmani, The Fatimid Philosopher/summoner -- 2.2. Qur'anic Narratives In Kirmanl's Cosmology -- 2.3. Knowledge And The Evolution Of The Human Soul -- 2.4. The Rational Soul And The Intellect -- 2.5. Intellective Emanation, Perfect Souls, And Infallible Knowledge -- Bibliography -- 3. Kirmani's Discourse On The Imamate And Its Influence -- 3.1. Rational Discourses Of The Imamate In Shicism -- 3.2. Kirmanl's Theory Of The Imamate -- 3.3. Reappearance Of Philosophical Imamology In The Works Of Naslr Al-din Tusi -- Bibliography -- 4. Mulla Sadra On Knowledge And The Imamate -- 4.1. Mulla Sadra In Context -- 4.2. Mulla Sadra On The Nature Of Knowledge -- The Soul In Progress And The Perfection Narrative -- The Ultimate Source Of Knowledge: Emanation Narrative -- 4.3. Perfect Souls, Imams, And The Necessity Of Instruction -- 4.4. Mulla Sadra's Political Imamology And The Imam's Representatives -- Bibliography -- 5. Mulla Sadra's Legacy And Concluding Remarks -- 5.1. Shlci Philosophy And Politics: Mulla Sadra's Legacy -- 5.2. Concluding Remarks -- Bibliography. Sayeh Meisami. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.