An Examination of the Arguments for and Objections to the composition by way of Unification of Matter and Form (with an Emphasis on Sadrian Philosophy)

One of the problems that is a subject of debate in philosophy is the manner of the composition of matter and form. The majority of the Peripatetic philosophers say that this is a composition by way of annexation. Some however, such as Mulla Sadra, say that the two composed  together by way of unification. He follows Sadr al-Din Dashtaki Shirazi in this regards. In order to substantiate his claim he  offers some proofs. An examination of the arguments of Mulla Sadra shows us that they are objectionable. Nevertheless, he used the philosophical foundations of the Transcendent Wisdom to present a new version of the argument of ‘potentiality and actuality’ [for the existence of matter and form] that coincidentally also proves the unification of matter and form. In this paper, first the subject of debate is clarified. It has been explained that the debate is concerned with primal matter and form in the sense of that which sustains something. Also, by ‘composition’ a real composition is referred to. Also, in this paper some of the objections that might prevent one from accepting the unification of matter and form have been addressed. Finally, a more profound explanation of the unification of matter and form has been presented based upon the philosophical foundations of the Transcendent Wisdom