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.
List of Reprinted Works
Note on Transliteration
List of Contributors
General Introduction, S. H. Nasr
Prolegomenon, M. Aminrazavi
Part I : The School of Shiraz
Introduction, S. H. Nasr
1. Jall al-D朝n Dawn朝
Introduction, M. Aminrazavi
The Treatise of Baghdad (from Rislat al-zawr幣)
2. 畊adr al-D朝n Dashtak朝
Introduction, M. Aminrazavi
Treatise on the Problem of the Liars Paradox (from Rislah f朝 shubhat jadhr al-a畊amm)
3. Ghiyth al-D朝n Man畊Ｅr Dashtak朝
Introduction, M. Aminrazavi
Man畊Ｅrian Ethics (from Akhlq-i Man畊Ｅr朝)
Stations of the Gnostics (from Maqmt al-平rif朝n)
4. Shams al-D朝n Khafr朝
Introduction, S. H. Nasr
Treatise on Prime Matter (from Rislah fil-hay笛l)
Treatise on the Bewilderment of the Learned: The Liars Paradox (from Rislat 平ibrat al-fu畍al幣: Jadhr al-a畊amm)
Part II : The School of Isfahan
Introduction, S. H. Nasr
1. M朝r Dmd
Introduction, M. Aminrazavi
Sparks of Fire (from 温鉛-河温恢温壊偵岳)
2. M朝r Findirisk朝
Introduction, M. Aminrazavi
Treatise on the Arts (from Rislah-yi 畊in平iyyah)
3. Mull 畊adr
Introduction, S. H. Nasr
The Four Intellectual Journeys (from al-Asfr al-平aqliyyah al-arba平ah)
Metaphysical Penetrations (from 悪庄岳偵恢温鉛-珂温壊鞄偵平庄姻)
The Unification of the Intellector and the Intellected (from Itti畍ツd al-平qil wal-ma平q笛l)
4. The Two Lh朝j朝s
Introduction, S. H. Nasr
The Pearl of Desire (from Gawhar-i murd)
Lights of Inspiration (from Shawriq al-ilhm)
Persian Treatises (from Ras幣il-i frs朝)
5. Sayyid(pl. sda/asyd) Arabic term for lord or master. It is a pre-Islamic term and refers to a person who possesses dignity or enjoys an exalted position among his people. Amongst… A畍mad 平Alaw朝
Introduction, S. H. Nasr
Commentary on The Book of Healing (from Shar畍 al-shif幣)
6. Mull Rajab 平Al朝 Tabr朝z朝
Introduction, M. Aminrazavi
On the Necessary Being (from Ithbt-i wjib)
The Fundamental Principle (from al-A畊l al-a畊Ｄl)
7. Mull Mu畍sin Fay畍 Kshn朝
Introduction, M. Aminrazavi
Hidden Words (from Kalimt makn笛nah)
Divine Sciences (from al-Ma平rif al-ilhiyyah)
8. Q畍朝 Sa平朝d Qumm朝
Introduction, M. Aminrazavi
Mysteries of Worship (from Asrr al-平ibdt)
Commentary on the Enneads (from Ta平l朝qt bar uth笛l笛jiy)
9. Mu畍ammad 畊diq Ardistn朝
Introduction, M. Aminrazavi
畊diqian Wisdom (from al-畍ikmah al-畊diqiyyah)
Part III: The Qajar Period and the School of Tehran
Introduction, S. H. Nasr
1. Qu畊b al-D朝n Nayr朝z朝
Introduction, S. H. Nasr
The Measure of Good in the Elucidation of the Subject of Rhetoric (from M朝zn al-畊awb dar shar畍-i fa畊l al-khi畊b)
2. Mull Ism平朝l Khj笛幣朝
Introduction, S. H. Nasr
On the Refutation of Illusory Time (from Ib畊l al-zamn al-mawh笛m)
3. Mull 平Al朝 N笛r朝
Introduction, M. Aminrazavi
Glosses upon The Secrets of Verses (from Shar畍 asrr al-yt)
4. 畍つjj朝 Mull Hd朝 Sabzawr朝
Introduction, S. H. Nasr
Commentary on a Philosophical Poem (from Shar畍 al-man畉笛mah)
5. Mull 平Abd Allh Zun笛z朝
Introduction, S. H. Nasr
Divine Flashes of Light (from Lama平t-i ilhiyyah)
6. q 平Al朝 Mudarris 畊ihrn朝 (Zun笛z朝)
Introduction, S. H. Nasr
Marvels of Wisdom (from Badyi平 al-畍ikam)
7. q Mu畍ammad Ri畍 Qumsha幣朝
Introduction, M. Aminrazavi
On the Oneness of Existence, or Rather, the Existent (from Rislah f朝 wa畍dat al-wuj笛d bal al-mawj笛d)
Addendum to the Ringstone on Seth from The Ringstones of Wisdom on the Topics of Friendship (from Dhayl-i fa畊ａ坑-i sh朝th朝-yi fu畊Ｅ畊 al-畍ikam: dar mab畍ith-i walyat)
8. M朝rz Abul-畍asan 畊ab畊ab幣朝 (Jilwah)
Introduction, M. Aminrazavi
Philosophical Epistles (from Ras幣il falsafiyyah)
Select Bibliography
Index
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.