Digital Islamic Humanities

Digital Islamic Humanities

The Role of Computer Software in Facilitating Philosophical Research: Solutions, Opportunities, and Challenges (With Emphasis on Subject Dictionaries of Islamic Philosophy Developed at the Noor Computer Research Center for Islamic Sciences)

Document Type : Original Article

Author
Hamidreza Shirmaleki
Head of the Department of Philosophy and Theology, Noor Computer Research Center for Islamic Sciences; Senior Lecturer in Islamic Philosophy, Qom Seminary
10.22034/disah.2026.2084390.1067
Abstract
With the advancement of digital technologies, computer software has become an essential tool and an unparalleled platform for conducting scientific research. In this context, Islamic sciences—and consequently Islamic philosophy—have also benefited from this technological transformation, particularly through the efforts of the Noor Computer Research Center for Islamic Sciences, which has produced valuable research software in various Islamic fields, especially Islamic philosophy. This article examines the infrastructural role of computer software, including digital library software and subject dictionaries, in facilitating philosophical research. It explains how modern computational technologies can enhance both the quality and quantity of research in this field. In this regard, practical solutions for recognizing and optimally utilizing these tools in advancing research in Islamic philosophy are explored, along with the opportunities and challenges they present.In particular, subject dictionary software for Islamic philosophy and its applications in philosophical research are analyzed. Research and exploration of philosophical texts can be conducted through two primary methods: lexical search and conceptual search. However, lexical search alone is insufficient to meet the needs of researchers, and conceptual search capabilities are essential. Subject dictionaries represent one of the most effective tools in this regard, significantly assisting researchers in achieving accurate and meaningful results. By examining methods of content analysis based on topics, indexing, keywords, and auxiliary systems (such as synonyms, related terms, and cross-references) within subject dictionaries, the critical importance of these tools in improving the efficiency, accuracy, and depth of research—particularly in conceptual search—becomes evident. This approach can serve as a foundation for enhancing both the quality and quantity of scholarly production in Islamic philosophy and wisdom.
Keywords
Software
Subject Dictionaries of Philosophy
Conceptual Search
Digital Library
 
Computer Research Center of Islamic Sciences Noor. (2017). Specialized library and thematic index of Illuminationist philosophy. Computer Research Center of Islamic Sciences Noor. [in persian]
Computer Research Center of Islamic Sciences Noor. (2018). Islamic wisdom library (Version 2). Computer Research Center of Islamic Sciences Noor. [in persian]
Computer Research Center of Islamic Sciences Noor. (2018). Specialized library and thematic index of logic. Computer Research Center of Islamic Sciences Noor. [in persian]
Computer Research Center of Islamic Sciences Noor. (2019). Forugh-e Kherad (Library and thematic culture of Persian philosophical books). Computer Research Center of Islamic Sciences Noor. [in persian]
Computer Research Center of Islamic Sciences Noor. (2020). Specialized library and thematic index of Peripatetic philosophy. Computer Research Center of Islamic Sciences Noor. [in persian]
Computer Research Center of Islamic Sciences Noor. (2021). Specialized library and thematic index of Mulla Sadra’s works (Version 2). Computer Research Center of Islamic Sciences Noor. [in persian]
 
Digital Islamic Humanities
Volume 1, Issue 2
November 2025