Ma`rifat Farhangi Ejtemaei

Dilthey, no doubt, has a significant role in theories on human sciences. This role should be investigated in an attitude which considers human sciences independent from natural sciences. In spite of the fact that he was under the influence of different thinkers’ views, most of whom did not consider human sciences independent from natural sciences, he held that human sciences is independent, and distinct regarding its subject matter, aim, and method. Hence, he has tried to explain practically the features of human sciences in view of its subject, aim, and method. The lack of Persian resources about Dithey’s views on the subject led to the explication of his views in this paper. The main aim is to find Dithey’s intellectual foundations, particularly in his great work-“Introduction to the Human Science" which has recently been translated into Persian, and to compare these foundations with those of great Muslim philosopher, Mullā Şadrā shirazi. The comparison shows that although such thinkers as Mullā Şadrā did not focus on human sciences in its modern sense, Dithey’s views were based on a kind of criticism of Aristotelian and medieval metaphysics. This criticism, of course, does not apply to Sadraian metaphysics. According to this criticism, focusing on intellectual foundations of Sadraian thinking can be considered as a first step for followers of Mullā Şadrā to provide a different interpretation of human sciences.