Prima facie it seems that principality of existence and principality of quiddity are two opposed theories, but they are, in fact, two distinct philosophical systems with different principles which these two theories are in their forefront stand. For example, considering Mulla Sadra's argument to prove ...
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Prima facie it seems that principality of existence and principality of quiddity are two opposed theories, but they are, in fact, two distinct philosophical systems with different principles which these two theories are in their forefront stand. For example, considering Mulla Sadra's argument to prove principality of existence based on intensifying movement, shows that he criticized Peripatetic’s philosophical system which contained, in Mulla Sadra's view, principality of quiddity, denying intensifying movement of quiddity, and Peripatetic’s specific view about qule movement. On the other hand only when we consider ‘intensifying movement’ in a philosophical system, containing principality of existence, unity of existence, and intensity of existence, it can be a basis to prove principality of existence. This shows that Mulla Sadra portrays reality in his mind which has many metaphysical components, and conceives it as a distinguished and correct picture of reality compared to the picture of principality of quddity advocates. But having a picture in mind and its epistemic transmission to others are two different things. Epistemic transmission of a picture to others needs putting the picture into pieces and transmitting them in a linear state. This is exactly what Mulla Sadra did. To put the metaphysical pieces of his picture in a linear state he put the principality of existence in the forefront.
Fideism, evidentialism and pragmatism are three major models of theism in contemporary religious epistemology. Each of these major models includes minor models. In Fideism we find three models according to them faith is in contrast with intellectual reasoning, without any relation to intellectual ...
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Fideism, evidentialism and pragmatism are three major models of theism in contemporary religious epistemology. Each of these major models includes minor models. In Fideism we find three models according to them faith is in contrast with intellectual reasoning, without any relation to intellectual reasoning or without any need to intellectual reasoning. Evidentialism covers syllogistic and probabilistic evidentialism and pragmatism can be world-centered or hereafter-centered. Surveying Muslim philosophers' thoughts and reconstructing their theories in a new way allows us to have dialog with contemporary theories in the realm of religious epistemology. For example with contemplating on Avicenna's philosophy we can reconstruct his theory in the frame of syllogistic evidentialism and studying Sadra's philosophy permits us to remodel his theory in the frame of the third model of fideism. We also can rebuild Ghazali's theory in the frame of pragmatism. Understanding models of theism in contemporary era and endeavoring for reconstructing Muslim philosophers' thoughts let us act well when we encounter atheism and its different models.
