A Study of the Effect of Non-cognitive Realms of Soul on Its Cognitive Realm from al-Ghazali's Viewpoint Concerning Soul-Body Relation

One of the most important questions in epistemology is whether we attain our knowledge only through our cognitive faculties or other aspects of our soul also affect it. In this paper we will review and analyze al-Ghazali's epistemological system. Then we will discuss different relations that exist between various aspects of the soul and how these relations determine our development in perfection. We will show that the effect of these relations on the cognitive aspect of our soul refers to the soul-body relations in its turn. According to the circular interactions of soul and body, in al-Ghazali's opinion, every bodily act has an influence on the soul which again creates an act in its turn. Since every act has its origin in the soul as a meaning, this meaning will be intensified when it is embodied in the form of an act and this entails in the improvement of the soul's consciousness. This process can be explained in al-Ghazali's moral-cognitive analyses concerning how virtues are derived by repeating and constant doing of suitable acts and how obedience of God can increase our knowledge.