How to Create A Work of Art Based on The Theory of Descent In Mulla Sadra's Philosophy

Focusing on Mulla Sadra’s psychology paves the way for understanding various issues in Islamic art. In this respect, one should perceive humans from the perspective of creation and restoration (The Arcs of Descent and Ascent). Therefore, the main two subjects in studying the philosophy of Islamic art are to discuss the creation and perception of a work of art (i.e. The Arcs of Descent and Ascent of a work of art). Employing a descriptive-analytical method, I aim to explore the first half of the ontological circle of a work of art (i.e. the creation of a work of art) in terms of “the theory of descent”. According to this theory, a work of art originates in the divine power and the existential basis of the artist. So, the process of creating a work of art begins from his/her imagination and ends in an object in the corporeal world. This process can be described from summary to detail and each lower level is the descended degree of the upper. In this respect, the process not only shows the weak or strong points of the power of comprehension of the artist but also indicates his/her divine power. Therefore, along with the necessary skills, an artist needs to train his/ her soul because the act of creation of a work of art is intrinsically dependent on the existential degree of the artist.