Philosophical Foundations of Intercultural Dialogue from the Perspective of Mulla Sadra

Abstract

Intercultural dialogue has emerged as a fundamental necessity in the contemporary world for managing cultural diversity, reducing conflicts, and promoting peaceful coexistence. However, many existing approaches remain confined to linguistic, social, or political frameworks and lack deep philosophical grounding, particularly at the ontological and epistemological levels. The present study aims to articulate the philosophical foundations of intercultural dialogue based on the Transcendent Philosophy of Mulla Sadra by examining its metaphysical, anthropological, and epistemological dimensions. The research adopts a descriptive-analytical method grounded in the study of primary Sadrian texts and philosophical sources. The findings indicate that principles such as the primacy of existence, the gradation of being, substantial motion, and the unity of the knower and the known provide a coherent theoretical framework in which cultural plurality is understood within an ontological unity, thereby enabling meaningful and profound dialogue among cultures. From an anthropological perspective, the human being is conceived as a dynamic and evolving entity whose identity is shaped through interaction with others, making intercultural dialogue a path toward self-realization and existential growth. Epistemologically, the recognition of multiple levels of knowledge—from sensory perception to intellectual and intuitive cognition—transforms dialogue into a multi-layered process that goes beyond mere information exchange. Overall, the Sadrian model offers a comprehensive and integrative perspective with significant potential for rethinking intercultural dialogue and developing a transformative framework in this field.