An investigation of the relationship between political knowledge and happiness in Mulla Sadra's thought

Abstract

According to Aristotle, wisdom is categorized into practical and theoretical in Islamic philosophy. Political philosophy, household management, and ethics are examples of practical wisdom issues in which the question of politics in wisdom and philosophy has been taken into account. Some Muslim philosophers, such as Farabi, have devoted more attention to politics and philosophy, although most Muslim philosophers have made explicit connections to philosophy and politics in their works. Mulla Sadra Shirazi was a Muslim philosopher who paid close attention to political issues in the sphere of philosophical thought in his works, particularly in the last chapter of the book of ‘al-Shawahid al-rububiyyah.’ On the other hand, the issue of happiness is one of the fundamental issues in ethics as a part of practical wisdom. The answer to the vital and philosophical question of whether politics is effective in the issue of worldly and afterlife, human flourishing must be taken into account thoroughly regarding the other pillars of practical wisdom. Mulla Sadra considered worldly happiness necessary for otherworldly happiness, and he considered man a civil being by nature, like his predecessors, and he expressed a close relationship between politics and happiness.