Explanation of Rational Perception in Transcendent Theosophy

Mulla Sadra has adopted three different approaches in accounting for rational perception. The first of them is the vision of rational forms in a distance. In this stance, luminous Images and intellectual entities are the object of vision. In the second approach, however, unification with Active Intellect is the ground for the explanation of rational perception. On this account, human soul is united with Active Intellect and as result intelligible forms are gained. In the third approach human soul obtains the intelligibles through immersion in Divine Essence and annihilation in God and consequently becomes creator of the forms of intellection. Different as these approaches appear, on reflection they turn out to be indicating and expressing the changes and variations of human soul. According to Mulla Sadra, in all these approaches rational knowledge is identified as presential knowledge and as such his view is different from other famous philosophers.