A Critical Review of Concrete Matter Based on the Fundamental Principles of Peripatetic Philosophy and Transcendent Philosophy
Subject Areas : Studies on Mulla Sadra and the Transcendent Philosophy
1 - PhD in Islamic Philosophy and Kalam (specialization in Transcendent Philosophy), Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
Keywords: concrete matter, arguments of concrete matter, material and immaterial, trans-substantial motion, Peripatetic philosophy, Transcendent Philosophy,
Abstract :
The Peripatetic concrete matter is the first and most comprehensive philosophical explanation of motion based on materiality and immateriality. Although the core philosophical idea in this regard is undeniable, the Peripatetics' method of analyzing this concept has created some limitations in solving the related problems. The demonstration and explanation of this theory are based on the well-known arguments of potency and act, differentia and conjunction, as well as the argument based on the principle of temporal origination. To provide a deeper explanation and more precise identification of the points of criticism, the logical form of these arguments is initially mentioned, and then it is shown that the concrete view of prime matter is inconsistent in multiple ways with the main principles of Peripatetic philosophy, such as “the aggregation of corporeal and specific forms,” “the concomitance of existence with unity and actuality”, as well as with the correct principles of the Transcendent Philosophy, including “the principiality of existence,” “copulative existence,” and “trans-substantial motion.” The set of principles evaluated in this research present a novel endeavor; hence, another theory to explain the truth of matter must be extracted from the foundations of Transcendent Philosophy to replace the idea of concrete matter. This can be a basis for re-identifying the concepts of “immaterial” and “material”, solving the difficult problems of motion and time, creating greater consistency among philosophical teachings, and establishing a harmony between them and Islamic teachings.
