Fourth Biennial Conference on Iranian Studies

Organised by the Society for Iranian Studies (SIS) and cosponsored by the Association for the Study of Persianate Societies (ASPS) Bethesda, MarylandMay 24th-26th, 2002.

The Society of Iranian Studies (SIS) was founded in 1967 to encourage and promote the international study of Iranian culture and society, including its history, language, literature and arts. In addition to publishing the Iranian Studies journal, the Society convenes the biennial “Conference on Iranian Studies” as well as organises special sessions at the annual Middle Eastern Studies Association of North America (MESA) meetings.

It also awards the annual Saidi-Sirjani Memorial Book Award. At present, the offices of the secretariat and journal are housed at the Hagop Kevorkian Center at New York University.

In 2002, the IIS contributed a panel presentation as well as hosted the conference reception “Esoteric Traditions in Iranian Islam”

Chair:

  • Dr Farhad Daftary Head, Department of Academic Research and Publications, The Institute of Ismaili Studies

Panelists/Members:

  • “Paradigms and Pitfalls: The Problems of Labelling in Ismaili and Shi'ite Studies”
    • Dr James W Morris Chair, Islamic Studies, Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, University of Exeter
  • “The Degrees of Esoteric Gnosis and Gnostics in Persian Shi‘ite Theosophy: Sa’in al-Din Turkah Isfahani (d. 830/1437) and ‘Abd al-Razzaq Lahiji (d. 1072/1661-2)”
    • Dr Leonard Lewisohn Research Associate, The Institute of Ismaili Studies
  • “Nasir al-Din Tusi on Ta’wil”
    • Dr Jalal Badakhchani Research Associate, The Institute of Ismaili Studies
  • “Esoteric Dimensions of Knowledge and Intellect in Early Persian Philosophy”
    • Dr Alice Hunsberger Visiting Research Fellow 1999-2001, The Institute of Ismaili Studie

Discussant:

  • Dr Mehdi Aminrazavi Associate Professor of Philosophy and Director, Center for Asian Studies, Mary Washington College