چکیده:
Contemporary Islamic philosophy, which is not in the direction of dead end
of Ghazzali's approach and Averose's unfollowed philosophy, has had more
improvements in Shi'ites [Iranian cultural background. These active
philosophical thoughts that have been encountered some of contemporary
problems in philosophy and other problems are rarely known by Western
thinkers. In this paper I will review the possibility, meaning and importance
of comparative studies between Western and Islamic philosophies. Although
there are some increasing activities in this field, there are some obstacles in
this comparison (and other comparisons) that must be overcome for a true
one. These difficulties arise from hermeneutical meanings of the problems
and the cultural diversities and the different approaches in the same
problems. These matters bring the suspicion of impossibility of comparative
philosophy. But if it would be so then all kinds of mutual understanding
would be meaningless and absurd. 1 believe that all comparative studies must
be aware of those obstacles and try to overcome them more and more to
reach a more true comparison. Then, I will examine five meanings of
comparative philosophy between Western and Islamic philosophies that some
of them cannot result fruitful consequences and some others are closer to
upgrading mutual understanding and more cooperation for some better
philosophical views. I will also point to the importance and necessity of such
dialogues for a more global intercultural relations and solving the apparent
conflicts that have some deep misunderstandings.