Abstract

Illuminationist epistemology is a transcendent system which can explain the position of inherent knowledge and its relationship with other kinds of human knowledge. Self-evidence, infallibility, stability, generality, potentiality to describe the universality and gradation are among the features of inherent knowledge in Sohrevardi’s view. The conceptual scope of inherent knowledge expands particularly in luminous system and illuminationist science of soul, such that empirical knowledge is possibly a sub-category of inherent knowledge when rereading the concept and theories related to modes of perception. According to Mulla Sadra’s illuminationist view, intellectual knowledge has an analytical, abstract, and combinative function, is generally acquired and distinct from inherent knowledge. According to Sohrevardi’s view, however, intellectual knowledge is explained in a way that can have a strong relationship with inherent knowledge. Some kinds of intuitive knowledge have also features which are the same of those of inherent knowledge. Using a descriptive-analytical method and citing evidence and documents, the present paper seeks to study these issues, given the central position of inherent knowledge in the intellectual system of illuminationist knowledge.