Instruments of Knowledge in the Illuminative Philosophy of Suhrawardi

The issue of man’s epistemic instruments is fundamental in all schools of epistemology. In the illuminative philosophy of Suhrawardi this issue has been broadly discussed which led to innovative ideas in this regard, despite of some similarities with Peripatetic philosophy. Suhrawardi, in his works, has provided a triple division of epistemic instruments: 1. Sense (external and internal), 2. Reason, and 3. Mithal senses and heart. Innovations of Suhrawardi regarding epistemic instruments are important in especially four things: 1. the status of memory and fantasy 2- unity of illusion, imagination and fantasy 3. The relation of senses to soul, and 4. The special explanation of Mithal senses and heart. Mulla Sadr has severely criticized these innovations but has accepted his viewpoint about intuition. Some of contemporary thinkers have their own standpoints toward Suhrawardi’s ideas. All these criticisms and ideas, altogether, can provide us with a suitable base for reviewing Suhrawardi’s ideas in his discussion on the epistemic instruments.