Investigating the Relationship between Quiddative Plurality and Accidental Gradation of Existence
Subject Areas : ملاصدراپژوهی و اندیشۀ حکمت متعالیه
1 - PhD Candidate of Transcendent Philosophy, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Level 4 student at Mashhad Seminary, Mashhad, Iran
Keywords: Gradation, vertical gradation, accidental gradation, ontological plurality, quiddative plurality, accidental plurality,
Abstract :
The gradation of being, as one of the most important and influential foundations of Transcendent Philosophy, has always been a subject of discussion among thinkers. Despite all the differences in the definition of gradation, it is certain that, firstly, unity and plurality must be present in gradation; secondly, its plurality must return to unity. On the one hand, plurality is divided into ontological plurality and quiddative plurality. Ontological plurality refers to the plurality and difference originated in existence, and quiddative plurality refers to the plurality and difference arising from quiddity. The present paper seeks to answer the question of whether quiddative plurality returns to unity, so that gradation would apply to it. Some statements of philosophers create the impression that they refer quiddative plurality to unity and equate it with accidental gradation. However, the author believes that quiddative plurality results in accidental plurality rather than accidental gradation. The union of quiddity with existence causes the spread of quiddative plurality to existence and its attaining quiddative plurality in a secondary and accidental manner. Nevertheless, this does not mean that the accidental gradation of being originates in quiddity. This paper, by explaining the reality of gradation and its types, elucidates the aforementioned claim and provides some arguments for it.