An Analysis of the Concept of Authenticity in Architecture Based on the Levels of Perception from Mulla Sadra’s Perspective

Problem statement: 

Understanding authenticity in architecture is a significant and challenging topic. Nowadays, this subject has been primarily explored in the fields of restoration and cultural heritage. Discussions regarding the authenticity of a heritage building frequently arise in architectural discourse. However, due to divergent opinions, the vast scope of the subject, and the lack of precise criteria to address the issues related to the authenticity of architectural works, this important topic has often been overlooked by experts. Consequently, many related studies reflect mutual influence and repetition of general ideas.

From the perspective of this study, one of the most important areas that can assist researchers in understanding the nature of authenticity is philosophy. The concept of perception in architecture is one of the key issues in this field, and a precise understanding of it plays a significant role in re-evaluating the process of authenticity in architectural works. Research question of this article is What dimensions does the concept of authenticity in architecture possess based on the levels of perception in Mulla Sadra’s theory?

This study adopts Mulla Sadra’s Transcendent Theosophy as its theoretical foundation, employing a descriptive-analytical method to define the levels of human perception and to identify the process of actualizing the degrees of authenticity. Logical reasoning was used to illustrate the relationship between the concepts of authenticity and perception in architecture.

Accordingly, corresponding to the three degrees of sensory, imaginative, and intellectual perceptions according to Mulla Sadra, three degrees of authenticity are defined in terms of form, concept, and meaning.