The Existence-as-Fluid Metaphor in Mulla Sadra's Philosophy

In cognitive metaphor theory, abstract concepts are understood by conceptual metaphors so that by removing these metaphors, these concepts are not understandable. Given this theory, wujud (existence), as one of the most important concepts in Mulla Sadra’s philosophy, is understood by several conceptual metaphors. Existence-as-fluid metaphor maps the properties of the fluid on the existence in metaphysics. The fluid is not able to keep its body shape, but conforms to the shape of its container; so, the fluid is seen as continuous and integrated matter. These two properties play an important role in the conceptualization of the existential unity. In the theory of existential unity, creation of the universe is described by the flow and expansion of existence. The two terms are also rooted in the understanding of existence as a fluid.