Abstract

It goes without saying that the problem of the "principiality of existence" has never been explicated, clarified, and demonstrated in any philosophical or mystical book as it has in Mulla Sadra's works. Therefore, we can rightly claim that he is unique in this regard; however, the question here is whether those philosophers and mystics who lived before Mulla Sadra ever said anything in confirming or rejecting the "principiality of existence". If yes, what did they exactly say? And, on the basis of what they said, could we decide which of them were for the"principiality of existence" and which for the "principiality of quiddity?