Ph.D. Dissertation:

Comparison of epistemological components in Shahabuddin Suhravardi and Linda Zagriski's view

A comparative study of the views of two philosophers, each approaching knowledge from distinct perspectives, can significantly influence the broader understanding of some of today's complex philosophical issues. Linda Zagzebski, a contemporary virtue ethicist, and Shahab al-Din Suhrawardi, the founder of the Illuminationist school, are both among the most prominent intellectual leaders of their respective eras. By challenging the foundations and components of dominant empiricist and rationalist epistemology—particularly those elements that have contributed to the proliferation of purely rational and propositional philosophy—they seek to expand the scope of knowledge and its objects into other realms of human activity, motivated by their philosophical concerns and perspectives. A careful examination of the philosophical doctrines of Zagzebski and Suhrawardi concerning epistemic components reveals the deficiencies of modern philosophy regarding aspects that have been overlooked in epistemology; these deficiencies call for profound reform and expansion, as well as modification. Such reformations and modifications are particularly evident in Suhrawardi’s philosophy, which emphasizes intuitive knowledge, visionary insights, and experiential intuition. The Illuminationist philosophy, based on eternal and divine radiances, offers a philosophical framework that connects intuitive, heart-centered perception with profound knowledge. It maintains that the elevation and vitality of philosophy depend on the elevation of the enlightened sage—an theosophical philosopher who, through divine revelation within himself and the universe, attains knowledge that is not only rational but also contributes to harmony and order within both the self and the cosmos. In this process, Suhrawardi endeavors to understand and reconstruct the pre-existing intellects of previous thinkers and to revive the primordial essence of wisdom. Meanwhile, Zagzebski, focusing on intellectual and moral virtues, aims to construct pathways that unify ethical goodness with epistemic excellence. By accurately identifying internal emotions and motivational dispositions, she seeks to elevate moral character and improve epistemic evaluation. Her metaphysical approach underscores that understanding and wisdom are essential for the growth and vitality of philosophy, and that beyond rationality, the development of new epistemic virtues and qualities of the soul can provide pathways for their emergence. By analyzing the epistemological approaches of Suhrawardi and Zagzebski, despite notable differences, we observe necessary commonalities: the expansion of the fundamental epistemic bases, which renders the value of knowledge dependent not only on propositional rationality but also on a qualitative, inner journey—an inward development accompanied by creativity and spiritual blossoming. Consequently, this study, based on an integrated analysis of the philosophical perspectives of these two thinkers, aims to shed light on some of the unresolved ambiguities in modern epistemology.

Keywords: Shahab al-Din Suhrawardi, Linda Zagzebski, Wisdom, Self-Knowledge, Internal Motivations, Intellectual Virtue, Understanding