Page 81 - Pure Life 39
P. 81
(
56 / International Multidisciplinary Journal of Pure Life, 11(39), 2024
Introduction In the work, The Principles of
Epistemology focuses on how human Philosophy and the Method of Realism,
knowledge aligns with the external world ʿAllāma Ṭabāṭabāʾī articulates that
and why that matters. Throughout history, knowledge by presence refers to a form of
philosophers have explored these ideas. understanding in which the object of
European and Islamic thinkers have knowledge, along with its external reality,
offered various views on humanity, the is directly accessible to the knower. This
soul, and the nature of truth. form of knowledge does not rely on mere
ʿAllāma Ṭabāṭabāʾī, a contemporary representations or images; instead, it
Islamic philosopher, explored new allows the knower to grasp the essence of
philosophical ideas and, using insights the known. Entities that exist
from illumination philosophy, the independently of us cannot be identical to
peripatetic school of philosophy, and us nor can they be intrinsic to our nature.
transcendental philosophy, proposed a new The essence of all that we encounter,
interpretation of their compatibility. He whether it aligns with our own being or
argues that all acquired sciences return to pertains to the various dimensions of our
al-ʿIlm al-Ḥuḍūrī (knowledge by existence, necessitates a critical
presence) (Ṭabāṭabāʾī, 2002, p. 237). examination and evaluation of our
Theoretical Foundations understanding (Ṭabāṭabāʾī, 1993, p. 60).
In essence, knowledge can be classified This definition of knowledge by
into two distinct categories. presence encompasses the following
two significant aspects:
• Al-ʿIlm al-Ḥuḍūrī (Knowledge by
Presence) • Present knowledge of humans on
their own existence.
• Al-ʿIlm al-Ḥuṣūlī (Knowledge by
Acquisition) • Present knowledge of humans on the
Knowledge by presence contrasts levels and attachments of their existence.
sharply with knowledge by acquisition. By analyzing these two points, four
The former refers to an intuitive and types of knowledge by presence can be
immediate understanding that is grasped proposed for humans:
directly, devoid of any mediation, • Human’s Knowledge of His Own
arbitration, or interference from external Existence (I/ Me/Myself)
human senses. In simple terms, the According to Idrākāt al-I'tibāriyah
knower understands the known directly, (conventional perceptions), theorized
without needing a mental image. This by ʿAllāma Ṭabāṭabāʾī, true knowledge
direct connection is evident in how we is the mental unveiling of reality and
experience emotions like anger, hatred, the fact, and since there is a sacred
love, and desire. purpose behind the great creation and
