Theologian and Professor of Islamic Studies at the École pratique des hautes études in Paris
Abstract
In this late work, Henry Corbin interprets the spiritual crisis of modern humanity as a consequence of a superficial and externalized understanding of monotheism. He views Western secularism and nihilism as symptoms of an emptied concept of God. Rather than rejecting faith, Corbin calls for a return to the inner, mystical dimension of monotheism. He distinguishes between an exoteric, dogmatic view of God and an esoteric, inwardly experienced divinity. His primary sources of inspiration are Islamic mystics such as Ibn ʿArabi, Suhrawardi, and Haydar Amoli. True tawḥīd, in Corbin’s view, is not numerical unity but a metaphysical relationship that transcends objectification. The human being acts as a mediator between the divine and material worlds, exemplified by the figure of the “spiritual knight.” Corbin proposes an esoteric ecumenism in which different religious paths are seen as legitimate ways to God. He warns against the degeneration of faith into lifeless dogma and emphasizes the importance of lived religious experience. This text represents a concentrated expression of Corbin’s late philosophy and a call to renew spiritual depth.
