Henry Corbin's Understanding of Mulla Sadra

By: Prof. Hermann Landolt

 

The paper will begin with an appreciation of Corbin's contribution as editor and translator of the Kitab al-masha'ir, as translator of Mulla Sadra's glosses to Suhrawardi's Kitab hikmat al-ishraq, and as interpreter of Mulla Sadra's commentaries on Shi'ite hadith. Then Corbin's general interpretation of Mulla Sadra's "prophetic philosophy" will be discussed, focusing on certain key themes such as asalat al-wujud, the middle world, and "resurrection". Finally, an attempt will be made to assess Corbin's understanding of Mulla Sadra as a historian of Islamic philosophy and as a phenomenologist.