Synopses & Reviews
Persian civilisation has had a continuous tradition of philosophical thought lasting more than two and a half millennia. The fifth and final volume of An Anthology of Philosophy in Persia examines the seven centuries between the Mongol invasion and the end of the Qajar period. The volume is divided into three parts: 'The School of Shiraz,' whose importance for Ottoman Turkey and Muslim India is only now being recognized; 'The School of Isfahan,' which marks the integration of some eight centuries of Islamic thought; and finally 'The School of Tehran,' where traditional philosophy encountered modern thought in Persia. This volume is of the utmost significance for understanding the Islamic intellectual tradition not only in Persia but also in Ottoman Turkey and Muslim India.
Synopsis
Persia is home to one of the few civilizations in the world that has had a continuous tradition of philosophical thought lasting more than two and a half millennia. From the time Zoroaster brought the Gathas, the sacred scripture of Zoroastrianism, until today, it has had a philosophical tradition comprising diverse schools and various languages including Avestan and Pahlavi as well as Arabic and Persian. The West has seen surveys of Persian art and anthologies of Persian literature, but this work is the first to present a millennial tradition of philosophy in Persia in the form of translated selections and introductory sections for each period and figure. Existing translations have been used where possible but most of the selections have been newly translated for this work which, with the help of the explanatory introductions, makes possible an intellectual journey into a philosophical continent much of which has been uncharted for Westerners until now. The fifth and final volume of An Anthology of Philosophy in Persia deals with some seven centuries of Islamic thought stretching from the era following the Mongol invasion to the end of the Qajar period.
Organized around the cities which became the main centres of philosophical activity during this long period, the volume is divided into three parts: 'The School of Shiraz', whose importance not only for Persia but also for Ottoman Turkey and Muslim India is only now being recognized; 'The School of Isfahan', which marks the integration of some eight centuries of Islamic thought and culminates with Mulla Sadra; and finally 'The School of Tehran', where traditional philosophy first encountered modern thought in Persia, bringing this series into present times.
About the Author
Seyyed Hossein Nasr received his early education in Iran and completed his formal studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University. He is the author of over five hundred articles and fifty books. He has taught at a number of universities both in the Middle East, including Tehran University, and in the United States and has lectured widely. Since 1984 he has been University Professor of Islamic Studies at The George Washington University.
Mehdi Aminrazavi received his early education in Iran and completed his master's degree in Philosophy at the University of Washington and his doctorate in Philosophy of Religion at Temple University. He is the author and editor of numerous articles and books, and is Professor of Philosophy and Religion at the University of Mary Washington, where he is also co-Director of the Leidecker Center for Asian Studies.
Table of Contents
List of Reprinted Works xiii
Note on Transliteration xv
List of Contributors xvii
General Introduction S. H. Nasr
Prolegomenon M. Aminrazavi
Part I. The School of Shiraz
Introduction S. H. Nasr
1. Jalal al-Din Dawani
Introduction M. Aminrazavi
The Treatise of Baghdad (from Risalat al-zawra?)
2. ?adr al-Din Dashtaki
Introduction M. Aminrazavi
Treatise on the Problem of the Liar's Paradox
(from Risalah fi shub?ah jadhr al-a?amm)
3. Ghiyath al-Din Man?ur Dashtaki
Introduction M. Aminrazavi
Man?urian Ethics (Akhlaq-i Man?uri)
Stations of the Gnostics (Maqamat al-?arifin)
4. Shams al-Din Khafri
Introduction S. H. Nasr
Treatise on Prime Matter (Risalah fi'l-hayula)
Treatise on the Bewilderment of the Learned: The Liar's Paradox
(from Risalah ?ibrat al-fu?ala?: Jadhr al-a?amm)
Part II. The School of Isfahan
Introduction S. H. Nasr
1. Mir Damad
Introduction M. Aminrazavi
Sparks of Fire (from al-Qabasat)
2. Mir Findiriski
Introduction M. Aminrazavi
Treatise on the Arts (from Risalah-yi ?ina?iyyah)
3. Mulla ?adra
Introduction S. H. Nasr
The Four Intellectual Journeys (from al-Asfar al-?aqliyyah al-arba?ah)
Metaphysical Penetrations (from Kitab al-Masha?ir)
The Unification of the Intellector and the Intellected
(from Itti?ad al-?aqil wa'l-ma?qul)
4. The Two Lahijis
Introduction S. H. Nasr
The Pearl of Desire (from Gawhar-i murad)
Lights of Inspiration (from Shawariq al-ilham)
Persian Treatises (from Rasa?il-i farsi)
5. Sayyid A?mad ?Alawi
Introduction S. H. Nasr
Commentary on 'The Book of Healing'
(from Shar? al-shifa?)
6. Mulla Rajab ?Ali Tabrizi
Introduction M. Aminrazavi
On the Necessary Being (Ithbat-i wajib)
The Fundamental Principle (al-A?l al-a?il)
7. Mulla Mu?sin Fay? Kashani
Introduction M. Aminrazavi
Hidden Words (Kalimat-i maknunah)
Divine Sciences (from al-Ma?arif al-ilahiyyah)
8. Qa?i Sa?id Qummi
Introduction M. Aminrazavi
Mysteries of Worship (from Asrar al-?ibadat)
Commentary on the Enneads (from Ta?liqat bar uthulujiya)
9. Mu?ammad ?adiq Ardistani
Introduction M. Aminrazavi
?adiqian Wisdom (from al-?ikmah al-?adiqiyyah)
Part III. The Qajar Period and the School of Tehran
Introduction S. H. Nasr
1. Qu?b al-Din Nayrizi
Introduction S. H. Nasr
The Measure of Good in the Elucidation of the Subject of Rhetoric
(from Mizan al-?awab dar shar?-i fa?l al-khi?ab)
2. Mulla Isma?il Khaju?i
Introduction S. H. Nasr
On the Refutation of Illusory Time
(from Ib?al al-zaman al-mawhum)
3. Mulla ?Ali Nuri
Introduction M. Aminrazavi
Glosses upon 'The Secrets of Verses' (from Shar? asrar al-ayat)
4. ?ajji Mulla Hadi Sabzawari
Introduction S. H. Nasr
Commentary on a Philosophical Poem (from Shar? al-man?umah)
5. Mulla ?Abd Allah Zunuzi
Introduction S. H. Nasr
Divine Flashes of Light (from Lama?at-i ilahiyyah)
6. Aqa ?Ali Mudarris ?ihrani (Zunuzi)
Introduction S. H. Nasr
Marvels of Wisdom (from Badayi? al-?ikam)
7. Aqa Mu?ammad Ri?a Qumsha?i
Introduction M. Aminrazavi
On the Oneness of Existence, or Rather, the Existent
(from Risalah fi wa?dat al-wujud bal al-mawjud)
Addendum to the Ringstone on Seth from
'The Ringstones of Wisdom' on the Topics of Friendship
(from Dhayl-i fa??-i shithi-yi fu?u? al-?ikam: Dar maba?ith-i walayat)
8. Mirza Abu'l-?asan ?aba?aba?i (Jilwah)
Introduction M. Aminrazavi
Philosophical Epistles (from Rasa?il falsafiyyah)
Select Bibliography
Index