The Limitation in Knowing High and Low Ranks of Existence from Mulla Sadra's Point of View

Abstract

Mulla Sadra emphasizes in limitation of human knowledge realistically and constantly and in different phrases calls his readers attention to accepting this fact. One of the most important limitations that Mulla Sadra believes for human knowledge is limitation in knowing high and low ranks of existence. This limitation is formed in the basis of Sadra ontological and epistemological foundations and is based completely on his main doctrines. One of these doctrines is existential gradation. That existence has high and low ranks is one of the branches and requisites of this doctrine. God, immaterial intellects and abstract existence is in the high ranks and material, physique, motion, time, potency and so on is in the low ranks. Sadra according to his existential definition of knowledge considers the knowing of these as impossible. Of course, Mulla Sadra concentrates greatly in limitation in knowing God when he discusses about the limitation of high ranks, and in discussion about the limitation of low ranks, he pays attention to material greatly. He presents vast arguments and discussions for justifying and proving the limitation in knowing high and low ranks of existence and explains these in the basis of his epistemic foundations.

Keywords

• knowledge of grades of existence
• human's knowledge
• epistemology
• ontology
• mulla sadra