Reflection of Reasoning in Makhzan al-Asrar and Khosrowa and Shirin by Nizami Ganjavi

Reasoning is a valuable science that is used in field of human knowledge such as philosophy, theology, ethics, religion, education, etc. Reasoning originates from Plato’s and Aristotle’s discussions upon application of arts and poetry. Persian poets’ conception of reasoning, specifically Nizami’s, who believed in semantic overlap between poetry, knowledge and wisdom, is closer to Aristotle’s views. Unlike Plato who deemed poetry as an outgrowth of fascination and incognizance in poets and somehow linked poetic inspiration to insanity, Aristotle’s maintained that poets enjoyed sparkling wit and could aid in purification of human soul by pursuing ideal reality. Therefore, the work of the poet is rooted in a kind of logic and wisdom that covers every kind of reasoning. Nizami who was cognizant of the sciences of his time such as logic, philosophy, theology, medicine and astronomy, always appreciated the fruits of wisdom and reason. Nizami’s logical insights have led him towards some forms of reasoning such as analogy, induction, and allegory. He has benefitted from these forms of reasoning on literary, intellectual, social, educational, allegorical, theological, paraphrastic, narrative, religious, geographic and historical grounds to substantiate and clarify his poems. In-depth study of the lyric work “Khosrow Shirin” and the didactic work “The Treasury of Mysteries” indicates that the oft-used form of reasoning is analogy on mystical, educational, medical, mythical, and hermeneutic grounds in the first form. Next comes allegory and finally induction which is seldom seen.