Macro Features of a Philosophical School, with Especial Focus on Peripatetic and Illuminative Schools

We face three well known philosophical schools i.e. Peripatetic, illuminative, and transcendent ones in the field of Islamic philosophy. An internal look at various issues raised in these schools and their analysis have formed the major part of books and articles in this regard. However, the external and holistic look at these schools and study of components forming a philosophical school and the process of its realization in a span of time are also very significant. Therefore the main questions are: 1. What are the features of a philosophical school distinguishing it from other ones? 2. Why do we face only three schools in Islamic philosophy? Explaining and analyzing these features, the present article seeks to apply them to the peripatetic and illuminative systems. The authors claim that the peripatetic and illuminative schools have a starting point, an especial philosophical method, necessary instruments for achieving their goals, and a harmonious ontological system. Carefully considering the teachings of these two schools, we can find out these elements and analyze why they are designated as philosophical schools and what distinguishes one from the other. Two points would be concluded from this analysis: firstly the macro foundations necessary for founding a philosophical school are explained. Secondly it becomes clear that the mere unity of the philosophical method of two philosophers or their consensus on one or more issues does not imply that their philosophical systems are one and the same. Thus the existence of even one new component can form the identity of a new school quite distinguished from the earlier ones.