Modern Islamic Philosophy and our Knowledge of the External World

Taheri Khurramabadi, Seyed Ali

doi:10.22091/pfk.2017.2394.1719

Modern Islamic Philosophy and our Knowledge of the External World

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Seyed Ali Taheri Khurramabadi

Assistant Professor, Philosophy of Knowledge Department, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

10.22091/pfk.2017.2394.1719

Abstract

Since Descartes and the presentation of Skeptical arguments, our knowledge of the external world is one of the concerns of Western epistemic philosophers. This concern was not an issue in traditional Islamic philosophy and in recent times and after the Muslim philosophers became acquainted with modern Western philosophy, some contemporary Islamic philosophers sought to prove the existence of the external world in response to “skepticism regarding the physical world”. Their reflections regarding this topic resulted in two metaphysical strategies: they proved the external world wither through the principal of causality or through “the necessity of conformity between sensory perceptions and physical objects”. This article shows that neither of these arguments can prove their claim; apart from this, even if their arguments were successful in proving the results, the strong and famous argument “from ignorance” which is in favor of Skepticism, is resistant against these arguments.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

- Feldman, R. (2003). Epistemology. New Jersey, Prentice Hall.

- Lemos, N. (2007). An Introduction to the Theory of Knowledge. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.

References in Arabic / Persian

- Avicenna (Ibn Sina). (1376 SH). Al-Ilahiyat min Kitab al-Shifa (metaphysics). Qom: Daftar-i Tablighat Islami-i Howze-i ‘Ilmiyya-i Qom Publishing House.

- Ha’eri Yazdi, M. (1379 SH). Ithbat-i ‘Alam-i Kharej (proving the external world). Zehn. 1(2). 1-31.

- Hussein Zadeh, M. (1382 SH). Pazhouheshi Tatbiqi dar Ma‘refat Shenasi-i Mu‘asir (a comparative study of contemporary epistemology). Qom: Mu’assasa-i Amozeshi Pazhouheshi-i Imam Khomeini Publications.

- Hussein Zadeh, M. (1391 SH). Ma‘refat-i ma be Jahan-i Kharej ya Mahsus ba Ta’kid bar Mabani va Ara’-i Ustad Mutahhari (our knowledge of the external or material world with emphasis on the foundations and views of Mutahhari). Tamashagah-e Raz. 1(4). 23-50.

- Hussein Zadeh, M. (2016). Brain in a Vat Argument; Explanation and Reassessment. Ain-e-Hikmat.8 (27). 89-107.

- Javadi Amoli, A. (1378 SH). Ma‘refat Shenasi dar Qur’an (epistemology in the Qur’an). Qom: Isra’ Publishing House.

- Mesbah Yazdi, M.T. (1383 SH). Amozesh-i Falsafe (philosophy teachings), vol. 2. Tehran: Amir Kabir Publications Institute.

- Motahhari, M. (1375 SH). Majmu‘a-i Athar ( a collection of works), vol. 6. Tehran: Sadra Publications.

- Motahhari, M. (1375 SH). Majmu‘a-i Athar ( a collection of works), vol. 9. Tehran: Sadra Publications.

- Sadr, M.B. (1408 AH). Falsafatuna (our philosophy). Qom: al-Majma‘ al ‘Ilmi lil Shahid Sadr.

- Tabatabai, M.H. (1386). Nihayat al-Hikmah. Qom: Mu’assasa-i Amozeshi Pazhouheshi-i Imam Khomeini Publications.

- Tabatabai, M.H. (1387 SH). Usul-i Falsafe va Ravish-i Realism (The Principles of Philosophy and the Method of Realism). Compiled by: Hadi Khosroshahi. Qom: Bustan-i Ketab.