Mullā Ṣadrā's Ultimate Viewpoint concerning Perception of Universals (Active Intellect, Vertical Intellects, or God?)

In his discourses concerning perception of universals، Mullā Ṣadrā has brought up various issues. On one hand، he says that in sensory and imaginative perceptions، the soul (nafs) is the originator and creator of images and then with its substantial and ontogenetic motion it achieves its higher level of perception، i. e. rational perception، unites with the rational non-material substance named active intellect، observes the universal images in active intellect، or the active intellect imparts the universals’ images to it. (Peripatetic viewpoint). On the other hand، sometimes he talks of the unification of the soul with ideas (masters of species) and the vertical intellects. (illuminationist viewpoint). In some instances، with his specific outlook، he points out that the soul in its higher levels of ontogenesis becomes annihilated in the very Essence of the Exalted God and sees the truth of object as they are in the Essence of God. While stating Mullā Ṣadrā’s final viewpoint based on the principles of transcendental philosophy، this article points out that in order to reconcile between these two viewpoints the two approaches of philosophical and mystical interpretations can be used in proposition. Perception of the universals with the annihilation in the Essence of God is compatible with the mystical interpretation; and the reconciliation of the two peripatetic and illuminationist viewpoints is possible mainly by relying on Mullā Ṣadrā’s specific philosophical viewpoint.