CSI Monday Majlis: Mehdi Aminrazavi

Abstract:

In this Majlis, we shall discuss how Islamic philosophy has developed through its interaction with Greek, Persian, Indian, gnostic, and some of the other philosophical traditions and yet has maintained its “Islamic identity.” While all the three Schools of Islamic philosophy, the Peripatetics (Mashshāʾīs, Illuminationists (Ishrāqīs) and Ṣadrians have adopted elements from philosophical traditions outside of Islam, we will focus on Suhrawardī and his School of Illumination as an example. The choice of Suhrawardī as an exemplar of this integrative vision is compelling, since he reconciles the global spirit of Ummah with the nationalistic spirit of each Muslim community while recognizing the individual integrity of different spiritual paths.

We will bring the discussion to an end by offering some guidelines as to how Islamic philosophy can enter into a dialogue with modern philosophy by considering the example of “The Case of the Animals versus Man before the King of the Jinn.” This medieval fable written by the Ikhwān al-Ṣafāʾ, demonstrates how Islamic texts can engage with contemporary concerns about sustainability, animal rights, and anthropocentrism.