The article aims to explore the roots of Deleuzean body beyond the traditional arguments of the philosophy of the body. In this context, firstly, I discuss the attitude of Cartesian dualism toward the body, and its consequences, which form the beginning of early modern philosophy. At the same time, they reflect the old, traditional views on the body. Those visions describe the body as a corpse in itself. With Spinoza and later Nietzsche the body, and soul/mind dualism is replaced with (...) monism and perspectivism. It is from this perspective that the question of “what can a body do?” is posed. Drawing on the philosophies of Spinoza and Nietzsche, Deleuze describes the body as a vast principle of potentiality. Such a body constantly appears as the dimension of the multiplicity that is self-constructing. Therefore, in this article, while discussing how the attitude toward the concept of the body changed from Descartes to Deleuze on the ontological level, I simultaneously try to demonstrate the capabilities of such a new understanding of the body. (shrink)

The relationship between gnostic experience and reason is a crucial issue in gnostic philosophy. Opinions are varied on this issue. Basically these various opinions can be summarized into two one of which sees the gnostic experience and the reason contradictory, that is, according to this perspective gnostic experiences cannot be explained by reason as they are outside the boundaries of the latter. What comes out of this standpoint is that gnostic experience is not real. The other perspective is that gnostic (...) experiences are not irrational. In contrast, reason can entirely account for these experiences, that is, it regards gnostic experience to be real. The first perspective is denied. For, the stories narrated by gnostic people living in different times and areas on their mystical experiences are the same. In order to solve the issue related to the second view, a couple of solutions are presented. Among them are the theories of multiplicity of viewpoints and that of meanings, which Walter Terence Stace does not accept. Finally, the author, it seems to also find himself in controversy. Thus, he believes that gnostic experiences are contradictory in spite of being real. That is, gnostic experiences are both contradictory and real. Apparently, there are two things that make Stace reach such a conclusion: misunderstanding of the statements that picture Gnosticism as something beyond reason (logic) and rationality, and inadequacy of the foundation of Western philosophy. Considering these issues, this research aims to: 1) determine the role of reason in Islamic sciences; 2) explore the function of theoretical reason in empirical, abstract, and intuitive sciences; 3) present and critically analyse Stace’s theory; 4) clarify the reason behind Stace’s regarding gnostic experiences contradictory to reason after acknowledging them as real; and 5) demonstrate the inadequacy of the foundation of Stace’s philosophy, clarifying the relationship between gnostic experience and reason based on the principles of Mulla Sadra’s transcendental philosophy. (shrink)

How has the Ismaili branch of Shi'i Islam interacted with other Islamic communities throughout history? The groups and movements that make up Islamic civilisation are diverse and varied yet, while scholarship has analysed many branches of Islam in isolation, the exchanges and mutual influences between them has not been sufficiently recognised. This book traces the interactions between Ismaili intellectual thought and the philosophies of other Islamic groups to shed light on the complex and interwoven nature of Islamic civilisation.Based on a (...) broad range of primary sources from the early medieval to the late nineteenth century, the book brings together different disciplines within Islamic Studies to cover polemical and doctrinal literature, law, mysticism, rituals and philosophy. The main Ismaili groups, such as the Fatimids, Nizaris and Tayyibis, are represented, as well as lesser known traditions such as that associated with the mountain region of Badakhshan in Central Asia. Religious syncretism, particularly in the Indian subcontinent and in Yemen, is considered alongside cultural interactions as reflected in the circulation of books in Fatimid markets, and various literary and mythical traditions, some still little explored. (shrink)