The Concept of 'Love' in Transcendent Philosophy: A Comparison between Mullā Ṣadrā and Plato

Abstract

ABSTRACT: With a mystico-philosophical approach, using the ontological principles of the transcendent philosophy of Mullā Ṣadrā, this paper attempts to examine a new perspective on the concept of 'love', the most mysterious feeling of the human being. The discussion will focus on ontological and psychological analysis of the concept of love as 'affection of male to female or female to male'. By affection, I mean that romantic feeling that appears in many human beings which is much deeper than parental love or the love between spouses; it reaches a degree at which the lover goes beyond his normal state, loses the ability to eat or sleep, and all his attention is directed to his beloved. The nature of this state comprises one of the main themes of poetry, literature and art in all cultures throughout the history of mankind. It is also examined in philosophy and modern psychology. This paper proposes a novel interpretation of love, contending that it extends beyond mere obsession or spiritual fervour. Rather than solely dominating the minds of lovers or being confined to moments of heightened spirituality, love is portrayed as an existential reality characterised by diverse levels and stages. Much like existence itself, love exhibits multiple dimensions of objectivity, challenging conventional perspectives and offering a more comprehensive understanding of its essence.