Reconsidering Preparatory Cause and its Anthropological Implications

In Islamic philosophy, cause is divided into efficient cause (‘llat-e ījādī) that bestows existence, and occasional or preparatory cause (‘llat-e i‘dādī). Based on the definition and criteria of cause proposed by Muslim philosophers, preparatory cause is only metaphorically called a cause. In this article, with a philosophical method and with the aim of explaining the real position of the preparatory cause among the causes and rereading some philosophical issues concerning causality, it is proved that causality is a graded reality that enjoys a wide range of intense and weak levels. Causality is consistent and harmonious with existence in this sense; cause and effect are among the modes of existence, and existence is graded. High levels are efficient causes and weak grades are preparatory causes. Therefore, though possessing a weak and low level, the occasional cause is also a real cause. According to the criteria of a cause, “co-existence” (ma‘iyyat) and/or “being directly and originally created” (ibdā‘) are not conditions of being a cause, and considering these two as the criteria of causation is due to the part-to-whole fallacy. The method of this research is analytical-rational and its purpose is to explain the true position of the preparatory cause among the real causes.