درخت حوزه‌های تخصصی

Intentionality, as a fundamental concept in the philosophy of mind, is essential to understanding how mental states are directed toward objects, concepts, or states of affairs. This article examines the theory of intentionality presented by ʿAllama Tabatabaʾi, with a focus on his Islamic philosophical framework. The research begins by defining the problem of intentionality, which concerns the nature, possibility, and content determination of mental states. We highlight how Tabatabaʾi’s grounding of intentionality in mental existence and immaterial knowledge provides a distinct perspective compared to contemporary naturalistic approaches. The study employs a qualitative, analytical, and comparative methodology, examining primary texts from Islamic philosophy, including works by Avicenna, Mullā Ṣadrā, and ʿAllama Tabatabaʾi, alongside modern Western discussions on intentionality. Through this critical lens, we identify Tabatabaʾi’s key contributions: the essential revelatory character of knowledge, the abstraction process in content determination, and the inseparable connection between mental existence and intentionality. The research findings reveal that while Tabatabaʾi’s model offers a metaphysically robust explanation of intentionality, it encounters significant challenges when evaluated in the context of contemporary cognitive science. Critiques include the lack of empirical testability, potential conceptual ambiguity for modern scholars unfamiliar with Islamic metaphysics, and the absence of a clear mechanistic explanation that aligns with materialist paradigms. Nevertheless, the article underscores the innovative nature of Tabatabaʾi’s approach in bridging classical Islamic thought with modern philosophical discourse. It also suggests potential interdisciplinary dialogues, especially with phenomenological perspectives that similarly emphasize the inherent directedness of consciousness. The findings contribute to a broader understanding of intentionality and open new avenues for future research on the integration of metaphysical and empirical frameworks in the philosophy of mind.

The present study aims to examine and analyze the Surahs al-Furqān and Fāṭir according to their order of revelation to determine how the order of revelation and the historical context affect the conceptual appropriateness of the Surahs. To this aim, a discourse analysis method with a descriptive-analytical approach was employed. After gathering information about Surahs al-Furqān and Fāṭir and understanding their historical contexts, we explored their conceptual units under the themes of: The Quran, Jihad, polytheists, disbelievers, and how these themes manifested during that time period. The results indicated that the order of revelation plays a significant role in uncovering the themes and content of Surahs al-Furqān and Fāṭir. It was discovered that, according to the order of revelation, the Quran's stance toward the polytheists of Quraysh and the Jews of Mecca in both Surahs, during the years 6 and 7 of the prophethood, was wise and pedagogical. However, in line with the social conditions of the polytheists and disbelievers in Mecca, there was an effort during a certain period, through the verses of Surah al-Furqān, to convey the guiding themes of the Quran with persuasive actions and soft language. The intensification of mockery from these groups in the subsequent revelation of Surah Fāṭir transformed the discourse of the Quran into declarative and harsh actions.