A Critical Survey of Mulla Sadra's Existential Approach as Viewed by Mir Qawam al-Din Razi Tehrani

A philosopher of the Safavid period and a representative of Mulla Rajab Ali Tabrizi’s school, Mir Qawam al-Din Muhammad Razi Tehrani (d. 1093/1682) is one of the commentators of the Isfahan School of Philosophy. Mir Qawam al-Din, like his master Mulla Rajab Ali Tabrizi, is a staunch critic of Mulla Sadra. He repeatedly criticizes the foundations of Mulla Sadra’s philosophical system in his works. The present study deals, after a brief account of Razi’s life and works, with Mir Qawam al-Din’s objections to Mulla Sadra’s existential approach in relation to such issues as the subject of philosophy, content participation of the concept of existence, fundamental reality of existence, existence being made and the graded unity of existence. The study also examines his most important views which are incompatible with philosophy in general, and Sadarai philosophy in particular including the ascription of the necessary to God, and the division of the necessary into the necessary by itself and necessary by the other.