Marifat-I Falsafi, Vol. 8, No.4 (Summer 2011), 167-187

The Object of Creation (ja‘l), and the Criterion of Createdness according to the Muslim Sages

Abd-al-Ali Shokr 1

Sedīgheh Mīrzā’i 2

The term, “ja‘l” (creation) has a number of meanings, but it is consensual among Muslim philosophers that its object is reality itself. But what exactly is reality itself? Is it existence, or quiddity, or becoming which is created?

This article examines three major theories in this regard: those of Peripatetics, Ishrāqis, and the Transcendental Philosophy of Mulla Sadra. There is a dispute about the exact ideas of the Peripatetic and the Ishraqi schools; some ascribe to them the idea of the creation of quiddity, while others interpret their theories in a way that the creation of becoming could be understood, and still others believe that they meant existence was the object of creation. Mulla Sadra’s final theory in analyzing the cause-effect relation comes to the point that there is only one real and self-subsistence existence, and it is God’s essence, and others are His self-disclosures. On this basis, there will remain no room for createdness, because God’s existence is real which is beyond creation, and others have no real existence and stop short of creation.

Keywords: Ja‘l, Creation, Createdness, Essential Object of Creation, Relative Existence, Quiddity, Becoming.

 

 

Marifat-I Falsafi, Vol. 8, No.4 (Summer 2011), 137-165

Role of the Principality of Existence/Quiddity on the Theory of the World’s Origination; from Shiraz School to that of Khorāsān

Maryam Khoshdel Rohāni 3

The problem of world’s origination has been a hot issue throughout the history of philosophy and theology, including Islamic philosophy and theology. One of the major factors that led thinkers to take different stances on this question was the debate over the principality of existence/quiddity.

This article is an attempt to assess the role of this debate on the issue of the origination of the world in the Islamic milieu. It will study Allamah Davāni, as a representative of Shiraz School in 9^th and 10^th centuries A.H, who based his theory of “eternal creation” on the principality of quiddity and “theosophical tasting”. According to this theory, the world of eternity (dahr) is changeless and encompasses the temporal world, and therefore, its entities lack time, flux, and quantity. The article will study an opposite theory belonging to Mulla Sadra, as an eminent representative of Isfahan School, who establishes his theory of temporally perpetual creation on the principality of existence. His idea of essential origination is based on “existential poverty” and “contingency by poverty” which is different from other philosophers. And finally, it comes to Sabzevāri, from the School of Khorāsān, who suggests the theory of “nominal origination” with a mystical approach.

Keywords: Created Thing, World’s Origination, Temporal Origination, External Creation, Essentiol Origination, Nominal Origination, Quiddity, Existence, Mulla Sadra, Davani, Sabzevari.

 

 

Marifat-I Falsafi, Vol. 8, No.4 (Summer 2011), 101-136

Non-detailed Knowledge with Detailed Unveiling; a Critique of

Three Theories in God’s Knowledge of Things

Rizā Akbariān 4

Mohammad Mahdi Kamāli 5

In the Islamic Philosophical tradition, the two important theories about God’s knowledge of things (before and after creation) are those of Ibn Sina and Mulla Sadra. Ibn Sina, based on his philosophical system, interprets God’s knowledge through representational forms, while Mulla Sadra suggests the theory of “non-detailed knowledge and detailed unveiling” on the basis of the principle of “Simple Reality”, and other foundations of his Hikmat Muta‘āliyah, especillay the principality of existence.

This article, first and foremost, wants to explain, and semantically analyze, Mulla Sadra’s theory in this regard. Then it tries to review the foundations and principles that have led him to this stance. And finally, it compares Mulla Sadra’s theory to that of Allamah Tabataba’i in order to show that there is still room for discussion on this important issue.

Keywords: God’s Knowledge, Representational Forms, Simple Reality, Non-detailed Knowledge, Detailed Uncovering, Absolute and Conditioned Reality, Essential Absolutness, Mulla Sadra, Ibn Sina, Allamah Tabataba’i.

 

 

Marifat-I Falsafi, Vol. 8, No.4 (Summer 2011), 75-100

Solving the Dilemma of Essential Accidents

Hassan Mo‘allemi 6

There are different criteria and standards for classifying various branches of science. One criterion belongs to the relation between the subject matter of a discipline to the predicate of its problems, which is known as “essential accident”.

There are disagreements about the definition and criteria of essential accidents. The author in this article accepts its definition as “predicates whose ascriptions to the subject matter of the discipline or the subject of its problems are real”. He criticizes other ideas on the basis of such approach.

Keywords: Accidents, Essential Accidents, Subject Matter, Problems of Science.

 

 

Marifat-I Falsafi, Vol. 8, No.4 (Summer 2011), 55-74

Evaluating Imaginal Forms from Farabi’s Point of View

Nādiā Maftūni 7

Although Farabi has not engaged in the issue of the critique of imagination, one can understand his stance by putting such questions to his works. The issue of the critique of imagination belongs to the realm of the philosophy of arts, and it is of strategic import for the development of the philosophy of Islamic arts to design such problems and try to find their solutions through the works of Muslim philosophers.

Farabi has theories about evaluating imagination on the basis of truth and falsity, beauty and ugliness, goodness and badness. He eventually appraises them by the criterion of human beatitude (sa‘ādat). The notion of truth and falsehood in imaginal forms differ from those in the realm of propositions. However, the arbitrator who judges about the beauty and truth of an imaginal form is the intellectual faculty, even in the sphere of imagination.

Keywords: Farabi, Imaginal Forms, Truth and Falsity, Beauty and Ugliness, Good and Bad, Beatitude, Philosophy of Arts.

 

 

Marifat-I Falsafi, Vol. 8, No.4 (Summer 2011), 27-54

An Appraisal of Qāzi Sa‘īd’s Ideas in the Science of the Soul

Mustafā Mo’meni 8

Ahmad Beheshti 9

Qāzi Sa‘īd, a post-Sadraian philosopher, has developed philosophical ideas opposite to those of Mulla Sadra and Ibn Sina. In the realm of knowledge, he does not consider knowledge to be by representation (huṣūli), nor by presence (huḍūri), rather does he suggest a new meaning for presence without further explaination. In the field of human soul, he follows Ibn Sina in considering its origination to be incorporeal, and on the issue of resurrection, he rejects both Ibn Sina and Mulla Sarda and suggests a new solution.

This article reviews the three issues in Qāzi Sa‘īd’s ideas, and shows some of the antagonisms that exist in his thought. For instance, all his stances on these issues are based on substantial motion and the principality of existence. This is while, he accepts the union of the intellect with the intelligible, and the union of the subject of the perception with its object, and at the same time, he rejects substantial motion. He also bluntly rejects the principality of existence, and accepts the principality of quiddity.

Keywords:Qāzi Sa‘īd Qummi, Perception, Vision, Resurrection, Origination of the Soul, Science of the Soul, Nafs, Knowledge by Presence.

 

 

Marifat-I Falsafi, Vol. 8, No.4 (Summer 2011), 11-26

The Reality of the Soul and its Corporeal Origination according to Farabi

Yār-Ali Kord Fīrūzjā’i 10

There are two major theories, in the Islamic philosophy, regarding the reality of the soul and its origination. On the one hand, the Peripatetics believe in its incorporeal origination and survival, while the Sadraians consider it as being corporeal in its origination, and incorporeal in its survival. Normally, people think of Farabi, as a Peripatetic, to belong in the first camp, but it is not true.

The authors of is article tries to show that Farabi considers human being as one of the bodies, comprised of matter and form. It remains corporeal before reaching the state of intellect. Only those who can comprehend rational concepts and intelligibles, attain immateriality and posses incorporeal souls. They resemble immortal intellects. Other souls, however, will perish with the corruption of their bodies and annihilate like other animals (and therefore, have no heaven or hell).

Keywords: Farabi, Soul, Nafs, Corporeal Origination of the Soul, Incorporeal Survival of the Soul.

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1 Assistant Professor, Shiraz University: alishokr67@gmail.com

2 M.A. Student of Islamic Philosophy and Theology, Shiraz University: Esm5000@yahoo.com

Received: 2011/2/20 Accepted: 2011/7/12

3 M.A. in Philosophy, Tehran University in Qum: f.farhanian@gmail.com

4 Associate Professor, Tarbiyat Modarres University: dr.r.akbarian@gmail.com

5 Ph.D Student of Islamic Philosophy and Theology, Razavi University of Islamic Sciences: m.mkamali@yahoo.com Received: 2011/2/12 Accepted: 2011/5/23

6 Assistant Professor, Baqir al-Ulum University: info@hikmateislami.com

Received: 2011/4/30Accepted: 2011/8/10

7 Assistant Professor, Tehran University: nadia.maftouni@ut.ac.ir

Received: 2011/3/10 Accepted: 2011/7/2

8 PhD Student of Philosophy, Azad University in Tehran: momeni.2006@yahoo.com

9 Professor, Tehran University; Received: 2011/1/12 Accepted: 2011/6/1

10 Assistant Professor, Baqir al-Ulum University: firozjaei@hotmail.com

Received: 2011/4/6 Accepted: 2011/6/19

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Table of Contents

Editor’s Foreword

The Reality of the Soul and its Corporeal Origination according to Farabi / Yār-Ali Kord Fīrūzjā’i

An Appraisal of Qāzi Sa‘īd’s Ideas in the Science of the Soul / Mustafā Mo’meni and Ahmad Beheshti

Evaluating Imaginal Forms from Farabi’s Point of View / Nādiā Maftūni

Solving the Dilemma of Essential Accidents / Hassan Mo’allemi

Non-detailed Knowledge with Detailed Unveiling; a Critique of Three Theories in God’s Knowledge of Things / Rizā Akbariān and Mohammad Mahdi Kamāli

Role of the Principality of Existence/Quiddity on the Theory of the World’s Origination; from Shiraz School to that of Khorāsān / Maryam Khoshdel Rohāni

The Object of Creation (ja‘l), and the Criterion of Createdness according to the Muslim Sages / Abd-al-Ali Shokr and Sedīgheh Mīrzā’i

Index of Articles and Authors of the 8^th Volume (No. 29-32)

Arabic Abstracts

English Abstracts

Ma‘rifat-i Falsafi is a quarterly journal of philosophical inquiry, dedicated to research in philosophy. This journal covers issues concerning the comparison, critique, and analysis of the foundations and ideas of Muslim philosophers, as well as the juxtaposition, scrutiny, and evaluation of theories articulated by Muslim and non-Muslim philosophers. Academically exploring novel and unprecedented issues in comparative philosophy is among the aims of this journal.

Valuing your philosophical thoughts and reflections, we cherish your criticisms and comments in order to improve the journal in all aspects. Please send your manuscripts to the editor, and your notes and suggestions to the coordinator.

Articles published herein, reflect only the viewpoints of their respected authors.

Citing material from this journal is allowed, Provided that its Source is mentioned.

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In the name of Allah

Ma‘rifat-i Falsafi Vol. 8, No. 4

A Quarterly Journal of Philosophical Inquiry Summer 2011

A publication by Imām Khomeini Institute for Education and Research

Editor in Chief: Ali Mesbah

Editor: Rizā Akbariān

Deputy Editor: Maḥmūd Fath’ali

Coordinator: Rūhollāh Farīsābādi

Editorial Board:

Dr. Ahmad Ahmadi: Professor, Tehran University

Dr. Rizā Akbarīyān: Associate professor, Tarbīyat Mudarris University

Dr. Ghulām-Rizā A‘wāni: Professor, Shahid Beheshti University

Dr. Muˆammad Fanā'i: Associate Professor, Imām Khomeini Inst. for Education and Research

Hoj. Ghulām-Rizā Fayyāzi: Professor, Imām Khomeini Inst. for Education and Research

Dr. Hussain Ghaffāri: Associate Professor, Tehran University

Hoj. Muhammad husainzādeh: Associate Prof., Imām Khomeini Inst. for Education and Research

Dr. Muhsin Javādi: Associate Professor, Qum University

Dr. Muhammad Legenhausen: Associate Professor, Imām Khomeini Inst. for Education and Research

Dr. Muˆammad Sa‘īdi Mehr: Assistant Professor, Tarbīyat Mudarres University

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