Sadr al-Din Shirazi and Evolution in Imagination Studies

Sadr al-Din Shirazi, a philosopher of the 10th century, have based the cornerstone of his thought on the Hikmat Mashsha` and the Hikmat Ishraq. In his study of imagination, he was more influenced by Suhrawardi than Mashshyian. The fact that he proves the world of imagination and places the soul in the three levels of sense, imagination and intellect, and puts two levels of the small imagination and the great one, is under the influence of Hikmat Ishraq. He has identified and fixed the loopholes in Sheikh Eshraq's view of imagination. This essay aims to examine Sadr al-Din Shirazi's view on the meaning of imagination and compare his views with the previous two schools. The method is descriptive and comparative analysis and the final result is that his perspective on fantasy is different from what seen in the schools. We should consider him a neo-Ishraqi in this field. Sadra does not accept the multiplicity of perceptual powers and the distinction between imagination and common sense, despite the views of the Mashsha`, and considers the existence of a single power that perceives imaginary immaterial as being sufficient. The forms present in the imaginary world are different in terms of hiddenness and appearance, as well as intensity and weakness. As much as the imaginary soul has more strength and its essence is strengthened and it returns to itself more and is relieved from physical occupations and laboring for bodily powers, and its represnted forms find a more complete appearance and their existence also becomes stronger.