Methodology of Anthropology in Transcendental Philosophy: A Review of Sadra Hermeneutics of Human Soul

A key issue in philosophy of Sadra is probing into the origination and destination of Man and its relation with natural Man. The current research is an attempt to delve into Sadra’s method and instrument of psychology to shed light on the logic behind superiority or distinction of transcendental philosophy over/from other philosophical schools of thought. Studying treatises of Sadra through documentary research and analysis shows that in studying soul and psychology, in addition to logical reasoning, Mulla Sadra has employed Quranic verses and traditions, personal experience, intuition, principles of faith, quotations, critiques, assimilation and metaphor, interpretations, metonyms and etc. Sadra has not used an interdisciplinary methodology in his anthropology. However, immersed in religion and Gnosticism and adept in contemporary philosophical schools of thought, he has given birth to a hermeneutic that is a blending of news and old philosophy and therefore resulted in a distinct interpretation of Man. Sadra’s anthropology is manifestation of human truth in the light of human reason and order of transcendence which is endorsed by sublime understanding of perfect human. So, though anthropology in transcendental philosophy enjoys revelation and intuition, it is still an authentic logical and philosophical method.