An Analysis of the Relationship between Humility and the Development of ‎Knowledge from the Perspective of Islamic Philosophy

‎ (With Emphasis on Mulla Sadra's Viewpoint)‎

Abstract

Humility, as a moral virtue, plays a fundamental role not only in the personal and spiritual realm ‎but also in the domain of knowledge and science. In Islamic philosophy, knowledge is regarded ‎as a dynamic and spiritual journey that requires the readiness of the soul to receive the truth. This ‎study focuses on the relationship between humility and the dynamism of science, aiming to ‎demonstrate that modesty is not a sign of weakness, but a vital condition for mental openness, ‎continuous error correction, and receptivity to higher levels of wisdom. Drawing upon the views ‎of Islamic philosophers, the article investigates how epistemic humility can contribute to the ‎flourishing of theoretical intellect and the advancement of scientific understanding. Ultimately, it ‎concludes that humility is not only an ethical prerequisite for scientific inquiry but also an ‎epistemic necessity in the process of the evolution of knowledge within the horizon of divine ‎wisdom‏.‏‎ This study adopts a philosophical-analytical method and a descriptive-explanatory ‎approach, examining key texts in Islamic philosophy. The data were collected through library ‎research and conceptually analyzed with a focus on themes such as self-knowledge, ontological ‎poverty, substantial motion of the soul, and intellectual humility‏.‏

Keywords: Humility, Evolution of Knowledge, Awareness of Ontological Poverty, Connection to the Active ‎Intellect, Substantial Motion of the Soul