Examining and Criticizing the Theory of Mental Existence with Emphasis on Transcendent Philosophy and Epistemological Coherence

Document Type : Scientific-research

Author

Graduate of Seminaries of Mashhad and Qom. Ph.D of Islamic philosophy and theology - transcendent wisdom, Department of Philosophy and Logic, Faculty of Social Sciences & Humanities, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Epistemology has gained significant importance in both Western and Islamic philosophy, particularly in the contemporary era. Among the most challenging discussions is the explanation and evaluation of acquired sciences, which in Islamic philosophy is examined under the title of "mental existence". This theory is one of the four prominent theories, with its latest formulation developed in transcendent philosophy. The primary focus of this research is to assess the capability of this formulation in addressing ancient challenges, such as unifying disparate categories, and responding to modern epistemological questions. Adopting a critical approach and emphasizing both foundationalism and the necessity of coherence within the structure of knowledge this study compares the theory of mental existence with three other competing theories. It concludes that while this theory represents a significant advancement in resolving the problem it still requires further development in terms of its foundations and coherence with other philosophical discussions. Suggestions for improving this theory, based on the principles of transcendent philosophy, are also presented. The significance of this problem lies in its relevance to contemporary epistemological problems and its crucial role in determining the ontology of knowledge in Islamic philosophy. The research method employed is descriptive-analytical, relying on library-based data collection.

Keywords

References

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