Types and Techniques of Education from the Viewpoint of Ṣadr al-Mut allihīn

From the viewpoint of Ṣadr al-Mut’allihīn and under the influence of the principles of transcendental philosophy, the reality of education is to remove the obstacles from the way of Divine Emanation. With some methods, human soul finds theoretical or practical knowledge by way of acquisition or the knowledge that is of existential reality without acquisition. A general glance at Mullā Ṣadrā’s works, remarks, or scattered assertions, implies that education is divided into two external and internal categories. The internal education includes thinking, inspiration, and revelation, and the external education consists of immediate and mediate types. From the Mullā Ṣadrā’s point of view, education has its specific preconditions and techniques, without which it would not be deservedly and correctly acquired. Purification and reinforcement of theoretical principles, solitude, and avoidance of imitation, practice, repetition, peace of mind, observing the order of learning doctrines, their combination, and taking the right course are among these techniques. Mullā Ṣadrā’s difference in stating the types and techniques of education is reflected in the difference in the perspective of transcendental philosophy toward knowledge as well as the ultimate goal of education and its Divine nature.