Abstract

Philosophers have divided wisdom into two theoretical and practical types, with each having its own types. Theoretical wisdom deals with the principles related to "is" and "is not". However, practical wisdom deals with issues related to "oughts" and "ought-nots" that are in the domain of man's capacity. These two types are other than theoretical and practical intellects. The former are two scientific branches while the latter are among the human faculties that are used as tools in order to obtain the former types.In Mulla Sadra's view, the human soul has two faculties: one looks at its superior, namely, the theoretical intellect, and the other looks at its inferior, namely, the practical intellect. Although the theoretical intellect is originated in the practical intellect, it is superior to it because the practical intellect receives and infers the details about actions from the general principles of the theoretical one. Accordingly, the practical intellect is at the service of the theoretical one. Mulla Sadra refers to certain levels for the former and believes that the human soul has to go through them in order to attain perfection. He maintains that the ultimate goal of practical wisdom is the expansion of the mind. Ibn Sina has also referred to most of the above issues in his works.