The rational demonstrations of Mulla Sadra for the impossibility of an infinite chain of vertically aligned descending effects and the necessity of the physical body

• Main Author: Agha Shiraz Husain
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Center for Religious Sciences Kom, Belgrade 2019-01-01
• Series: Kom: Časopis za Religijske Nauke
• Subjects: the physical body; pure reason; sensation; an infinite chain of vertically aligned effects
• Online Access: https://scindeks-clanci.ceon.rs/data/pdf/2334-6396/2019/2334-63961903031A.pdf

The existence of the physical body is something that can be proven with the help of sensation. Is it possible to prove the existence of this substance using pure reason, without the help of sensation? Also, there are proofs that demonstrate the impossibility of vertically aligned ascending causes. In other words, the chain of vertically aligned ascending causes must terminate at a being that is not the effect of anything else. However, is it possible for the chain of vertically aligned descending effects to go on ad infinitum? Mulla Sadra was of the opinion that there are purely rational arguments that can prove the existence of the physical body and the termination of the chain of vertically aligned descending effects at this being. In fact, in his magnum opus, the al-Asfar al-Arba'ah, he presented four demonstrations to corroborate this claim. Some of these demonstrations rest upon the necessity of the Hyle and some of them on the generosity of the Necessary Being. Some other demonstrations rest upon the necessity of the existence of beings other than the Intellects. Many of these demonstrations are founded upon the idea that an essentially necessary being is necessary from all points of view. All in all, most of these arguments possess the necessary requirements of demonstration, both from the point of view of their structure and the point of view of their content. Therefore, their conclusions are certain and, logically speaking, acceptable.