Opponents of Philosophy in the Islamic Culture from Martyr Motahhari’s Perspective

This paper analyzes Allame Martyr Morteza Motahari’s view on the opponents of philosophy in the Islam culture. Totally, in his view, the opponents of philosophy are divided into five groups, Mu’tazilites, adherents of Hadith, Ash’arites, integrated perspective (the adherents of Hadith and sensual philosophers) and Muslim Mystics. The Mu’tazilites, however, were closer to the philosophical way of thinking than others, though, their approach was dialectical, not argumentative.The Mu’tazilites also disapproved of some philosophical views. The Mu’tazilites, of course, opposed some philosophical views. While avoiding any arguments in theology, the adherents of Hadith, they only resorted to the religious texts. The Ash’arites did not regard reason and rational arguments as an independent source, but as a subordinate source. Despite Hadithi attitude, the integrated perspective was also influenced by sensual philosophy. Muslim mystics’ opposition to philosophy, eventually, has not been for denying the value of intellectual arguments, but for the validity of intuitive arguments over rational arguments.