Abstract
This study adopts an interdisciplinary approach to the interaction between philosophy and modern science in understanding reality, aiming to demonstrate that reality is neither merely a mental construct nor entirely independent of the mind, but rather the result of a dynamic interplay between authentic existence and mental modeling. Drawing on Mulla Sadra’s Transcendent Philosophy and the principle of the primacy of existence, it first clarifies the fundamental distinction between existence as a unified and dynamic reality and quiddity as a mental representation. Findings from cognitive neuroscience, particularly predictive processing theory, indicate that the human brain constructs reality based on internal models and predictions, making perceptual experience inherently prone to errors and limitations. In parallel, modern physics, through theories of relativity and quantum mechanics, has destabilized traditional notions of time, space, and matter, highlighting the observer’s role in shaping reality. The synthesis of these perspectives provides a framework in which quiddities are understood as mental reflections of independent existence. This convergence suggests that reality is a multilayered and dynamic network, dependent both on objective being and subjective representation. Such a view opens new pathways for dialogue between philosophy and science and contributes to practical applications in areas such as philosophy of mind and cognitive technologies.International
Keywords
Primacy of Existence, Predictive Processing, Transcendent Philosophy, Quantum Mechanics, Relativity, Epistemology, Loop Quantum Gravity
Introduction
The traditional notion of reality as an objectively knowable and stable entity has been increasingly challenged by developments in cognitive neuroscience and modern physics. Neuroscientists such as Donald Hoffman argue that what we perceive is not reality itself, but a species-specific user interface constructed for evolutionary advantage. Predictive processing models, pioneered by Karl Friston, claim that perception is a brain-driven hypothesis-testing mechanism rather than passive reception of stimuli. At the same time, modern physics—especially through the theories of relativity and quantum mechanics—undermines the classical notions of time, space, and material substance.
Mulla Sadra’s philosophical system provides a unique lens to synthesize these developments. His theory of the Primacy of Existence postulates that existence—not essence—is the fundamental reality. Our mental representations (mahiyyat, or "quiddities") are constructed from, and reflect, this independent and dynamic existence, but are not themselves foundational.
Materials and Methods
This research employs a multi-method approach:

Philosophical Analysis: We examine the epistemological foundations of Mulla Sadra’s metaphysics, including substantial motion and the ontological status of essence vs. existence.
Systematic Review of Scientific Literature: Recent findings in cognitive neuroscience (e.g., predictive coding, perceptual illusions, synesthesia, fMRI studies) and modern physics (e.g., relativity, quantum entanglement, and loop quantum gravity) are critically reviewed.
Theoretical Synthesis: A triadic comparison model is used to align philosophical and scientific perspectives. This includes:

Identifying structural analogies between neuroscience and metaphysics (e.g., predictive models ≈ mahiyyat)
Validating explanatory power across domains (e.g., perception ≠ reality)
Testing cross-disciplinary coherence (e.g., fMRI data ≈ Sadrian ontology)


Discussion
Findings suggest that human perception is not a mirror of reality but a predictive, brain-generated model constrained by biology and context. Empirical data—including illusions (e.g., McGurk effect, selective attention), brain imaging, and altered states (e.g., LSD studies)—support the view that perception constructs rather than detects reality.
Meanwhile, general and special relativity reframe time and space as relative and observer-dependent, rather than fixed backdrops. Experiments such as the Hafele–Keating atomic clock test and Eddington’s gravitational lensing confirm these relativistic predictions. Furthermore, quantum mechanics (e.g., the double-slit experiment, Bell tests, entanglement) and emerging theories like loop quantum gravity reveal that matter itself may not be fundamental but emergent from probabilistic and observer-participatory interactions.
These scientific shifts mirror Mulla Sadra’s ontological assertions. He emphasized that existence is fundamental, singular in its essence yet manifold in appearance. This aligns with quantum superposition and wave-particle duality. In Sadrian terms, mental constructs are mere shadows of the ontologically independent existence.
Results

Constructed Reality: Neuroscientific models demonstrate that perception is a cognitive construct, not a direct access to the real.
Observer-Dependence in Physics: Relativity and quantum theory show that space, time, and matter behave differently depending on the observer—implying no "absolute" physical reality.
Metaphysical Convergence: The principle of Aṣālat al-Wujūd echoes the findings of modern science in recognizing a unified, dynamic substratum beneath perceptual and physical diversity.

Conclusion
Reality is neither fully objective nor purely subjective. Instead, it emerges from the interplay between an ontologically grounded existence and cognitively generated mental models. This perspective bridges ancient philosophical insight and contemporary scientific knowledge, offering a pluralistic but unified model of reality. Such a model encourages further interdisciplinary dialogue and contributes to fields as diverse as philosophy of mind, cognitive science, artificial intelligence, and quantum epistemology.