A Re-examination of the Views of the Two Zunūzī Theosophers on the Problem of Mental Existence

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Associate Professor, Iranian Institute f Philosophy (IRIP), Tehran, Iran

10.22091/jptr.2025.11636.3176

Abstract

This article offers a critical re-examination of the theory of mental existence (wujūd dhihnī) in the thought of the two Zunūzī theosophers—Mullā ‘Abdullāh Zunūzī and his son Āqā ‘Alī Mudarris Zunūzī—within the framework of their radical interpretation of the Primacy of Existence (aṣālat al-wujūd). While the classical account of mental existence relies on the presence of the very quiddity (māhiyyah) in both external and mental realms, the Zunūzīs’ ontology denies any external realization to quiddity, viewing it as a purely conceptual representation of the limits of existence. To reconcile this tension, they reconstruct the theory by shifting the ontological locus to the “existence of knowledge” (wujūd al-‘ilm), redefining “representation” (ḥikāyat) as a relation between quidditative concepts and external existence, and “correspondence” (muṭābaqat) as conformity to existential and non-existential limits. A notable innovation is the extension of mental existence to pure intelligibles and even the Necessary Existent. However, this reconstruction generates internal inconsistencies, particularly regarding the instantiation of limited quiddities (bi-sharṭ-i lā) within simple, unconditional existence. Āqā ‘Alī later modifies his position by introducing the “dependent establishment” (thubūt-i tabi‘ī) of quiddities in the divine realm. The study demonstrates both the philosophical dynamism and the unresolved tensions in the Zunūzīs’ synthesis of radical ontology and functional epistemology. 

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

References
Hosseinzadeh, M. (2020). Barrasi-ye enteqadi-ye tafsir-e Aqa 'Ali Mudarris az nazariye-ye asalat-e vujud-e Mulla Sadra. Faslname-ye Ta'amolat-e Falsafi, 10(25), 183-208. https://doi.org/10.30470/phm.2020.113543.1674 [In Persian]
Hosseini Tehrani, M. H. (2008). Osool-e falsafeh va ravesh-e re'alism. Boostan-e Ketab Qom (Islamic Propagation Office of Qom Seminary Press). [In Persian]
Ibn Sina. (1984). Al-ta'liqat. Maktab al-I'lam al-Islami. [In Arabic]
Javadi, M., Kouhi, T., & Baran, S. (2022). Mental existence from Mulla Sadra's perspective. Sadra'i Wisdom, 1(1), 33-46. [In Persian]
Kas, M. (2018). Mental existence debates in the post-classical period: A study in the context of the essence and category of knowledge. Nazariyat, 4(3), 49-84. https://dx.doi.org/10.12658/Nazariyat.4.3.M0061en
Kosarian, H., Beheshti, A., & Kashfi, A. (2010). An examination and critique of the proofs for the realization of mental existence in Islamic philosophy. Islamic Philosophy and Theology, 43(1), 119-138. [In Persian]
Marcotte, R. (2011). Al-Masa'il al-Qudsiyya and Mulla Sadra's proofs for mental existence. Journal of Islamic Studies, 22(2), 153-182. https://doi.org/10.1093/jis/etr029
Mulla Sadra. (1981). Al-hikmah al-muta'aliyah fi al-asfar al-'aqliyyah al-arba'ah. Dar Ihya' al-Turath al-'Arabi. [In Arabic]
Obudiyyat, A. (2006). Darāmadi beh nezām-e hekmat-e Sadra'i (Vol. 1). Organization for Researching and Composing University Textbooks in the Humanities (SAMT) and Imam Khomeini Educational and Research Institute. [In Persian]
Obudiyyat, A. (2015). The exposition of the foundational philosopher (Aqa 'Ali Mudarris) on the depiction of the primacy of existence. Islamic Wisdom Quarterly, 2(3), 9-48. [In Persian]
Razi, F. (1990). Al-mabahith al-mashriqiyyah fi 'ilm al-ilahiyyat wa'l-tabi'iyyat. Bidar Publications. [In Arabic]
Razi, F. (2025). Al-mabahith al-mashriqiyyah fi 'ilm al-ilahiyyat wa'l-tabi'iyyat (Vol. 1). [In Arabic]
Sabzawari, M. H. (2001). Sharh al-manzumah (Vol. 2). Nashr-e Nab. [In Arabic]
Sabzawari, M. H. (2002). Sharh al-manzumah. Nashr-e Nab. [In Arabic]
Suhrawardi, S. (1993). Majmu'eh mosannafat-e Sheikh-e Eshraq. Institute of Cultural Studies and Research. [In Persian]
Suhrawardi, S. (2009). Al-talwihat al-lawhiyyah wa'l-'arshiyyah. Iranian Institute of Philosophy and Wisdom. [In Arabic]
Tabatabai, S. M. H. (2008). Osool-e falsafeh va ravesh-e re'alism. Boostan-e Ketab Qom (Islamic Propagation Office of Qom Seminary Press). [In Persian]
Tabatabai, S. M. H. (2018). Osool-e falsafeh va ravesh-e re'alism (Vol. 1). [In Persian]
Yazdanpanah, S. Y. (2009). Mabani va osoul-e 'erfan-e nazari. Imam Khomeini Educational and Research Institute. [In Persian]
Zonuzi, A. ibn A. (1992). Anvar-e jal'iyyah. Amirkabir. [In Persian]
Zonuzi, A. ibn A. (1999). Majmu'eh asar-e Aqa 'Ali Mudarris (Vol. 3). Hikmat-e Islami Publications. [In Persian]
Zonuzi, A. ibn A. (2002). Lama'at-e elahiyyah. Iranian Institute of Philosophy and Wisdom. [In Persian]
Zonuzi, A. ibn A. (2018). Majmu'eh mosannafat-e Hakim-e Mo'assess Aqa 'Ali Mudarris Tehrani (Vols. 1, 4, 5). Institute of Information. [In Persian]
Zonuzi, 'Abd Allah. (2002). Lama'at-e elahiyyah. Iranian Institute of Philosophy. [In Persian]
Zonuzi, 'Abd Allah. (2018). Majmu'eh mosannafat-e Hakim-e Mo'assess Aqa 'Ali Mudarris Tehrani (Vol. 1). Institute of Information. [In Persian]
Zonuzi, 'Ali (Mudarris). (n.d.). Majmu'eh mosannafat-e Hakim-e Mo'assess Aqa 'Ali Mudarris Tehrani. Institute of Information. [In Persian]
Send comment about this article
CAPTCHA Image
Journal of Philosophical Theological Research
Volume 27, Issue 4 - Serial Number 106
December 2025
Pages 115-140

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics