History of Islamic Philosophy

History of Islamic Philosophy

Critique and analysis of the rule "every abstract entity is unique to its species" in islamic philosophy

Document Type : Original Article

Author
Phd in Islamic philosophy and theology Faculty Of Theology And Islamic Studies Tehran University
Abstract
The rule “Every abstract thing is unique in its type” is one of the important and famous rules of Islamic philosophy, in such a way that it is claimed that Muslim philosophers are unanimous on it, and this can be a sign of its strength and rulings. According to this rule, since the plurality of individuals of a type is where the effects are distinct and these effects can only occur where there is matter, it is concluded that every abstract thing is the only individual of its type. This is while careful and research into this issue shows that not only is this rule not explicitly stated in the words of Sheikh Ishraq, but on the contrary, there are signs of its rejection in his words. Also, what has been said in proving this rule is debatable because the distinct and specific is not limited to matter and its effects, and since individuality is inherent in existence and one of the factors of individuality is the agent, and according to the philosophers, the number of abstract things is very large, and consequently, the directions of their issuance will also be very large, their individual plurality will be possible in this way. Therefore, it must be said that although it is true that where there is no personal distinctness, individual plurality is not possible, this does not apply to the world of reason because there is also distinctness.

Keywords: philosophical rule, abstract, individual plurality, matter, separble accident
Keywords
Subjects

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Volume 5, Issue 19
Autumn 2026
Pages 193-218

  • Receive Date 28 May 2026
  • Revise Date 09 October 2026
  • Accept Date 08 August 2026