A Review of Relationship between Science (Opinion) and Practice in Sohrevardi's Illuminationist Theosophy, Based on Pierre Hadot's model of Philosophy as A Way of Life

Pierre Hadot (1922-2010), a contemporary French philosopher, illustrated the dynamics and real life of philosophy in a philosopher's everyday life by offering the model of philosophy as a way of life, which was the result of his many years research on ancient philosophy. Using this philosophical model (philosophy as a way of life), the present paper reviews the relationship between science (opinion) and practice in Illuminationist theosophy. Philosophical discourse is one of the important components of this model. For Hadot, the value of discourse (theoretical philosophy) in philosophical schools lies in the service it provides to improve the quality of life and man's function and behaviour. Sohrevardi also puts emphasis on the importance of theoretical (discursive) philosophy as the prelude and guide in choosing illuminationist way of life. Thus the paper first reviews the status of discourse (philosophical theories) in ancient philosophical schools to provide a clear picture of the relationship between discourse (opinion) and practice in philosophical schools in order to show Hodot's view about this relationship, using the model of philosophy as a way of life. Finally, it studies the importance of discourse (opinion-discursive theosophy) in Sohrevardi's Illuminationist theosophy and its utility as a necessary prelude to inter into and choose an illuminationist life, lead illuminationist wayfarer in the way of life, and understand and acquire practical reason.