Fundamental Theories of Coexistence in Sadra’s Philosophy

Abstract

Contemporary man is faced with the challenge of violence and the conflict of cultures and societies. Some types of violence have their origin in incorrect conceptions of man and religion. To tackle violence, one should make use of different solutions, one of the important ones of which is a rational effort towards the elimination of the causes of its realization as well as the creation of an appropriate context for its uprooting in human beliefs. Sadra’s ideas concerning the interpretation of the belief in the Origin of Existence, man, and religion can set the ground for peaceful behaviors; because the correction of behaviors has its roots in the correction of beliefs. Mulla Sadra the Muslim philosopher of the sixteenth century (1571-1640) has offered some themes in his works that can be used for this purpose. Sadra’s theories such as the theory of sanctity of creatures, the theory of internal order, the theory of assimilation to God, the theory of human freedom in nature, the theory of rational man model, the theory of common primordial nature of humans, the theory of hermeneutical approach to existence and the theory of divine laws can be used for tackling the challenge of violence. Research on Sadra’s theological philosophy can provide useful theories for a better life for all humans. The method of the present article is library-based and descriptive-analytic and its objective is to use the written legacy of Mulla Sadra for solving the challenge of war and violence among the nations. Among the findings of the present article, one can refer to the establishment of the rational and philosophical foundations of coexistence in Sadra’s philosophical works are originated in his perspective of existence, man and religion.