An introduction to the methodology of applying social science theories in the cultural policy-making with an overview of principles and foundations of MollaSadra’s Thought

There are two contact points envisaged between theory and method; one in the theorizing and the other one in the applying of that theory. For applying the theories, meaning understanding and solving social and cultural issues of societies (entitled cultural policy making), referring to theories of social sciences (as theoretical capacity) is undeniable. Translating and teaching these western theoriesin our country’s academic centers followed by applying them in the processes of problem recognition, decision making, and execution is one of the realities of our today’s society. But the issue in hand is that outside social sciences theories, are often presented for solving their own local problems and have much discrepancy (both cognitive and none cognitive) with our society’s cultural and social problems. So the method of facing these theories should be intelligent. This article explained three necessities of this intelligence including: “identifying the challenges of the present methodological schools”, “relying on theintrinsic cognitive foundations”, and “considering the local fields of cultural and social needs”. It also tries to reexamine the principles and foundations of MollaSadra’s thoughts and proposes some guidelines to utilize such theories in the realm of cultural policy making.