Ma`rifat Falsafi

With the emergence of Sadraīan philosophy and the formulation of the fundamental theory of "the primacy of existence," nearly all Muslim philosophers have regarded quiddity as a mentally posited concept and attributed the primacy of reality to existence. However, various and sometimes contradictory readings of this theory have emerged among thinkers so that some of these readings, from the perspective of contemporary scholars, have led to the revival of the theory of "the primacy of quiddity." Among these, the difference of opinion between Ayatollah Misbah Yazdi and the interpretation attributed to his teacher, Allameh Tabatabai, is particularly noteworthy. The difference in the views of the two philosophers regarding the acceptance of the natural universals (in contrast to rational and logical universals) shows that the root of this disagreement stems from their differing interpretations of the theory of "the primacy of existence." An investigation into the cause of this gap leads us to recognize the distinction in their understanding of the point of dispute between them. With an analytical-descriptive approach and focusing on Ayatollah Misbah Yazdi's specific interpretation of the theory of "the primacy of existence," this article seeks to demonstrate how the manner in which the point of dispute is presented and explained can lead to different responses to this fundamental philosophical issue. The precise point of dispute of "the primacy of existence" is clarified in four stages so that, in the light of a clear understanding, an accurate judgment can be made regarding the different answers.