Three Inseparable Necessities in the Philosophy of Suhrawardi and Linda Zagzebski

Abstract

In the thought of Shihab al-Din al-Suhrawardi and Linda Zagzebski, two famous philosophers from two different eras and civilizations, we come across some components that lead us to a common approach. The value of knowledge, according to both philosophers, is a result of the value of processes, without which philosophy is doomed to fail. The three common necessities in the philosophy of Suhrawardi and Zagzebski are: (1) The necessity of internal elevation, which upholds the qualitative and internal process of knowledge by trying to strengthen the human will. (2) The necessity of unifying wisdom. According to this necessity, a person thinks about the unity of human opinion and experience by trusting in his/her thought and other intellectual traditions. Moreover, to reach self-cultivation and also to understand and elevate wisdom, a person requires personal intuition and creativity in each era. (3) The necessity of narrative, which makes the development of philosophical intentions dependent on the genius in thinking, the genius in creating motivation, and also the return to intellectual and moral patterns. With a new look at the factors of knowledge promotion, this research has addressed some epistemologically neglected topics that the spiritual and epistemological life of philosophy depends on it.

Keywords

• shihab al-din al-suhrawardi
• linda zagzebski
• internal elevation
• unifying wisdom
• narrative