Abstract

Mulla Sadra, the 17th-century Persian philosopher and founder of Transcendent Theosophy, presents a transformative epistemological framework that redefines knowledge as an existential and intuitive act, rooted in the primacy of existence. His concept of presential knowledge, or ‘ilm huduri, posits that true cognition occurs through the direct unification of the knower’s being with the reality of the known, mediated by spiritual faculties such as the heart and the active intellect. This article offers a comprehensive comparative analysis of Sadra’s existential-intuitive epistemology with Martin Heidegger’s existential awareness, centered on Dasein and lived experience, and Robert Audi’s theory of rational intuition, which emphasizes non-inferential apprehension of abstract truths. Drawing on primary sources, including Sadra’s Al-Hikmah al-Muta‘aliyah fi’l-Asfar al-‘Aqliyyah al-Arba‘ah, and interpretations from Islamic scholars like Allama Tabatabai, Morteza Motahhari, Ayatollah Javadi Amoli, and Mesbah Yazdi, alongside Western philosophical texts, the study explores convergences and divergences across Islamic mysticism, existential phenomenology, and analytic epistemology. Key questions include: How does Sadra’s epistemology redefine knowledge? How does it compare with Heidegger’s and Audi’s frameworks? What are its implications for contemporary philosophy? The analysis underscores Sadra’s unique contribution to global epistemology, offering a holistic model that transcends rationalist and empiricist paradigms, fostering a cross-cultural dialogue that enriches our understanding of human cognition.