Reflections on the Theory of Ghost and the Mental Mode of Existence from Allameh Tabataba i's Viewpoint

The issue of matching mind with reality has been not only a concern for Islamic philosophers but it has also been the center of controversies among western philosophers. Among the theories related to this issue, one can refer to the theory of the mental mode of existence among the latest philosophers and the ghost theory among theologians. The rise of this theory has been due to the questions raised by theologians about the nature of objects in the mind. Theologian’s curiosity in this context led to the emergence of new theories one of which was the ghost theory. Among the Islamic philosophers, Allameh Tabataba’i was the first who proposed this theory and provided an independent critique of it. In the present article, subsequent to a brief introduction, the compliance of mind and reality is examined. The explanation of the ghost theory from Allameh Tabataba’i’s point of view comes next. The inevitability of adopting sophistry and the creation of a vicious circle are the objections made by Allameh against this theory. The article provides a critique of these objections as the basis for strengthening the ghost theory and by citing some of the objections raised by the Islamic philosophers adds to the significance of the defense provided for the ghost theory.