Old Iranian Philosophy

Ancient Iranian teachings or Persian philosophy dates back to Zarathustra’s teachings. The Old Iranian philosophy had the hints of Judaism and Middle Platonism. The Arab and Mongol invasions of Iran brought in many schools of thought and a spectrum of views Zoroastrian traditions to the pre-Islamic era namely Manicheism and Mazdakism and post Islamic thinking. Old Iranian philosophy, Greek philosophy and Islamic Philosophy had an interaction.

The belief that human thoughts are aided by the supreme and transcendent philosophy developed by Mulla Sadra, were two important philosophical traditions in ancient Iran. Ancient Iranian philosophy had influence from Greek and Roman Schools of thinking. Zarathustra insisted on the worship of Wisdom. Persian philosopher Osthanes agreed with Zarathustra’s philosophical points and later this passed on students of Osthanes namely Democritus.

Philosophers view:

Anacharsis, a Scythian philosopher was a predecessor of Cynics and was very frank in his words. Unfortunately none of his works survived. Zurvanism was a branch of Zoroastrianism which is extinct at present. The word zurvan denotes time in Persian language. Zurvanism, unlike Zoroastrianism considered Ahura Mazda not as the creator, one of the two opposing cosmic bodies where the good or Ahura Mazda and the bad Angra Mainyu were twin brothers. The doctrine was introduced in the second half of Achaemenid era and enjoyed royal approval during the Sassanid era. Manichaeism founded by Mani found a wide spread affirmation from North Africa to China. Dualistic cosmology and theology were two salient features of Manichaeism which was also found in Mazdakism. While Manichaeism saw the mix of good and bad as a cosmic mishap, Mazdakism approached the issue in an optimistic view.

In Old Iranian Philosophy, Mazdakism, the founder Mazdak considered himself as a messenger of god and set up programs for the benefit of the society. The teachings of Mazdak were a fore runner for Communism. Later Islam had major impact on Iranian philosophy. The Avicennistic school of thought was a successful collaboration of Aristotelianism and Neoplatonism. Avicennism became a leading school of Islamic thoughts.

The doctrines about the nature of soul, the existence-essence distinctions of Avicennism gained popularity among the scholars of Iran and parts of Europe. Illuminist philosophy which descended from Islamic philosophy was a blend of Avicennism and ancient Iranian thinking. Illuminism has traces of Neoplatonism. Later Transcendent theosophy was asserted by Mulla Sadra in the 17^th century. His philosophy and ontology was observed as a vital piece of work for Islamic philosophy and a new philosophical insight.

Questions:

• What are the salient features of Manichaeism?
• Which philosophy was descended from Islamic philosophy?