Contemporary Wisdom

Sheikh Ishraq's mystical confronting with the Platonic tradition in his perception of eternal wisdom

Document Type : Biannual Journal

Authors

Cyrus Alipour 1
Hosein Kalbasi Ashtari 2

1 PhD student, Comparative Philosophy, Department of Philosophy, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran (corresponding author

2 Professor, Department of Philosophy, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.30465/cw.2024.49031.2056
Abstract
Abstract
Symbolism has long been applied to religion, mysticism, and philosophy. Shaykh al-Isrāq, al-Suhrawardī, through his symbolic language, portrays transcendent themes that are beyond the reach of ordinary language and demonstrative reason. Al-Suhrawardī views the pre-Aristotelian tradition, particularly Plato, as the Western representative of the primordial tradition of wisdom. The fundamental problem addressed in the present article is an analysis of al-Suhrawardī's symbolist perspective and its impact on interpreting Platonic wisdom based on the primordial tradition. The present research adopts a descriptive-analytic and comparative approach, referencing the works of both philosophers—al-Suhrawardī and Plato—to analyze the characteristics of symbolic language and its fundamental connection to transcendent truths and the primordial tradition of wisdom, and doctrines such as the purification and detachment of the soul, divine illumination (al-ishrāq) and inception, revelation (al-kashf), and intuition (al-shuhūd). The results indicate: first, a symbol is connected to and arises from transcendent truths. Second, the primordial tradition of wisdom has two aspects: a universal aspect (historical) and a divine aspect (nonhuman and trans-historical). Third, understanding transcendent truths and the shared divine foundation is possible through elements such as the detachment and purification of the soul and inner insight. Fourth, symbolic language enters the realm where experience and intuition serve as its dynamic elements. Fifth, Plato, as a divine sage, is a man of mystical experience and intuition who attained the state of detachment from the body (khalʿ al-badan); his wisdom is filled with transcendent truths. Sixth, symbolism is the means through which Plato and other philosophers expressed themselves. Thus, al-Suhrawardī employs a symbolic approach based on the primordial tradition when interpreting Plato. Through this approach, he conveys the profound meanings of the wisdom of illumination, seeking wisdom not in history but beyond it, in his interpretation of this tradition and others..
 
 
 
 
Introduction
Islamic philosophy is undeniably influenced by Greek philosophy, particularly Platonic thought. Al-Suhrawardī sought to establish a connection between ancient Persian wisdom and ancient Greek philosophy. Some scholars, like Henry Corbin, believe that his objective was to revive ancient Iranian wisdom. Al-Suhrawardī believed that the "Khosrowian tradition" (khamīra khusrawānī) and the "Pythagorean tradition" (khamīra Fīthāghūrī) are two manifestations of the primordial tradition (khamīra azalī) of wisdom. Through a symbolist approach, he highlighted primordial wisdom in his allegorical and mystical historiography. By reviving Khosrowian wisdom, he presented the shared foundations and symbols of early philosophers as a fundamental unity.
Research Method
This research adopts a descriptive, analytic, and comparative method to examine the characteristics of symbolic language by referencing the texts of al-Suhrawardī and Plato. It analyzes the connection of this language to transcendent truths, the primordial tradition of wisdom, and doctrines such as the purification and detachment of the soul, illumination, divine inspiration, and intuitive experience. Through this analysis, it will become clear how al-Suhrawardī approached the Platonic tradition and how illuminative wisdom aligns with that tradition and the primordial tradition of wisdom through symbolism. The research does not aim to demystify or compare the similarities and differences in the symbolic languages of these two philosophers, nor does it seek to measure how much al-Suhrawardī drew from Plato’s works.
Discussion and Results
The symbolist approach is a creative use of symbols to express profound and transcendent philosophical and mystical truths, which require insight and the liberation of the soul to be understood, as they transcend ordinary language and rational perception. In the "primordial tradition of wisdom," al-Suhrawardī's use of symbolism is not merely a means to convey knowledge but a path to attaining mystical experience and the direct understanding of spiritual truths. Al-Suhrawardī views himself as a follower of Plato, and his approach to the Platonic tradition is reflected in their shared mystical experiences.
Al-Suhrawardī bases his methodology on a combination of theoretical knowledge and intuitive experience, viewing both as essential. He sees discursive reason as a prelude to intuition, though he emphasizes the superiority of mystical experiences over discursive reasoning. His critique of Peripatetic philosophy, particularly Aristotelian rationality, serves as a path toward illuminative wisdom and inner intuition. Al-Suhrawardī underscores that while discursive wisdom is a prerequisite for intuitive wisdom, the latter is ultimately attained through intuition, not conceptual arguments.
In his encounter with the Greek tradition, al-Suhrawardī adopts both a negative and a positive approach. In his negative approach, he critiques the autonomous Aristotelian rationality embraced by the Peripatetic philosophers. In his positive approach, he views pre-Aristotelian wisdom, particularly Plato’s, as a branch of illuminative wisdom. By focusing on the shared roots of ancient Iranian and Greek philosophies, he seeks to characterize both traditions as manifestations of the same truth.
The concept of “perennial reason” in traditionalism refers to the eternal and primordial wisdom that has manifested across various religions and cultures, and is accessible through intuitive reason. Al-Suhrawardī similarly believes in a "primordial and sacred tradition of wisdom," which has appeared in traditions such as those of Iran, India, Egypt, and Greece. Both perspectives emphasize the hierarchy of being and the existence of a sacred, eternal, and divine entity beyond history and humanity. They hold that truth can only be grasped through intuitive reason and symbolic language, rather than discursive reason. Both al-Suhrawardī and Plato stress the importance of spiritual training and purifying the soul to attain divine truth and light. Al-Suhrawardī asserts that divine philosophers such as Plato, Hermes, and Pythagoras attained these truths through illumination and intuition, employing symbolic language to express them.
Perennial wisdom has two dimensions: one oriented toward the divine realm and the other toward the historical context. The primordial tradition of wisdom (perennial reason) serves as the shared motif through which the historical traditions of Iran, Greece, and other civilizations converge. This tradition manifests as a trans-historical (divine) phenomenon within the framework of historical (human) traditions. Building on this concept, al-Suhrawardī emphasizes the eternal and divine aspect of wisdom. He views his symbolic approach to the Platonic tradition as a means of expressing and deeply understanding ancient divine wisdoms, which cannot be conveyed through ordinary language. This symbolic approach enables al-Suhrawardī to draw upon shared concepts between illuminative and Platonic wisdoms, examine and interpret these ideas more profoundly, and transcend human history and traditions.

Keywords

al-Suhrawardī
Plato
the primordial tradition of wisdom
perennial wisdom
symbolist approach
intuitive experience

Subjects

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Contemporary Wisdom
Volume 15, Issue 1
September 2024
Pages 133-166

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