درخت حوزه‌های تخصصی

Radical constructivism (RC), introduced by Ernst von Glasersfeld, is an instrumentalist theory of knowledge that challenges the notion of knowledge as a picture or representation of a real, external world. Instead, RC, by integrating ideas from different theoretical fields - such as cybernetics, evolutionary biology, and evolutionary psychology - considers the purpose of the cognitive organism to construct knowledge not to achieve truth, but to construct perceptual and conceptual structures that help to maintain adaptation and cognitive equilibrium. However, the basic question here is, by what character these structures can achieve the purpose. By examining Glasersfeld's writings, this paper argues that the character is a "functional fit", which is based on a fundamental shift in RC, i.e. the shift from "matching" to "fitness". From this point of view, the "fit knowledge" is not due to its match with the external reality, but due to its repeated success in solving a specific problem, it is viable, and by preventing unwanted changes or perturbations, it gives order to the experiential world of the organism and helps to maintain its cognitive equilibrium. This perspective has the potential to create transformation in various fields, from education to ethics and social issues. Therefore, this paper, while examining the basic concepts of radical constructivist epistemology, also deals with its theoretical and practical applications.

One of the influential topics in Islamic philosophy is the issue of "active intellect". This term has entered Islamic philosophy from Aristotle's philosophy and some interpreters of Aristotle's works. Islamic philosophers interpreted this issue in the context of their philosophical system and by expanding its concept from the field of natural and industrial (artistic) phenomena to the field of epistemology; they gave it a significant role. These philosophers have presented two types of arguments to prove the active intellect. Some of these arguments are formulated based on the theory of the nine spheres and according to the principle of causality. These arguments attemt to prove efficient causes for the existence of spheres and introduce ultimate causes for their rotational movements. Arguments of the second category also attempt to prove active intellect by relying on principles such as "every event and contingent needs an efficient cause" and "lacking a thing, it is not given to it". In this article, these arguments have been examined and finally, it has been concluded that the arguments of the first category are vulnerable and invalid due to the invalidity of their basis (planetary theory); and the arguments of the second category can only prove non-material and efficient cause or causes, provided that their premises are true, not the active intellect, i.e., the tenth intellect.

The afterlife (also the world to come) has been one of the major humans’ concerns throughout history. Although heavenly religions and Islamic philosophy have recognized the very foundation of the Hereafter, there are questions surrounding the existence and characteristics of that world. In the meantime, there is a myriad of theories about it, and Mulla Sadra’s view is a key theory here. This research analyzes the philosophical basics of Mulla Sadra’s views to distinguish his perspective from those of others and to portray a different aspect of the world-to-come observations. The findings suggested that Mulla Sadra argues that man achieves actualization over time and transfers to the world to come by abandoning the matter. In that world, there are no objects for man to observe; rather, he will create all his observations by himself, with every human creating a more transcendental world made of imaginary perceptions which, unlike imaginary observations in this world, assumes an external reality which is also formed in the existence and life of the human psyche.

The functions of the intellect - which is one of the topics raised in the field of epistemology - are the activities and effects that the intellect performs in acquiring knowledge and recognizing objects and facts. The purpose of this research is to know the various functions of philosophical intellect and their application in the births and innovations of Islamic philosophy. This article has been made using analytical and argumentative strategies and document methods, logical and syllogistic analysis. The functions of intellect in philosophy should not be considered exclusive to its argumentative function. Philosophical intellect has various functions, and in order to know the differences of Islamic philosophy from other philosophical schools and to continue the growth of Islamic philosophy, we must pay attention to all these functions. The functions of philosophical intellect include imaginations perception, finding universal concepts, dividing concepts; combining concepts; making new concepts; building coherence between related objects, imaginations or affirmations; to affirm; questioning; description; explanation; interpretation; analysis; reasoning; ideation; theorizing; And the criticism that the application of the mentioned functions in Islamic philosophy has led to many births, such as the presentation of some divisions of existence by Islamic philosophers, the conceptualization of the perpetual origination by Mir Damad, the presentation of the problem of mental existence byFakhr al-Din al-Razi, a new reading of Plato's political philosophy by Farabi, the analysis of how existence Generalities by Avicenna, evidences proving the originality of existence, the supreme spacious of energy by Allameh Tabataba'i, Suhrawardi's illuminated metaphysical theory, etc.