A Comparative Study on the views of Aristotle, Ibn Sina and Mulla Sadra on the Function of Sensory Perception and its Epistemological Value

Abstract

Sensory perception is one of the most important issues in the field of the self and knowledge. Senses, perceptible and sensation have been seriously discussed in the thought of ancient Greek philosophers since Plato. Aristotle, a pupil and critic of Plato, considered his explanation of sensory perception insufficient. Thus in his collection of works, especially in the two on the self, senses and perceptible, he addressed the explanation of sensory perception. Muslim philosophers have also taken note of sensory perception. Ibn Sina and Mulla Sadra have referred to it in different books and examined its quality and types. For all three philosophers, the soul and its faculties are particularly important in explaining perception, and they regard true perception belonging to it. They divide human faculties into the internal and external. Aristotle, Ibn Sina, and Mulla Sadra know the five senses as external forces, and the common sense, among the internal faculties, as an important elucidation for sensory perception. Considering the extent of the discussion of sensory perception, this paper addresses only three issues: 1) the importance, position, and definition of sensory perception; 2) the study of external senses; 3) informativity of senses. Ibn Sina and Mulla Sadra's arguments can be said to be broader and more orderly than those of Aristotle are. Regarding the above three axes, this paper examines the sensory perception from the viewpoint of Aristotle, Ibn Sina and Mulla Sadra and illustrate the differences and similarities of their views. Keywords: Sensory perception, Sense, Perception, Self, Feeling

Keywords

• sensory perception
• sense
• perception
• self
• feeling