Principle of Causality: Interpretations, Self-Evidence, and Irrefutability with Emphasis on ‘Allāmah Ṭabāṭabā’ī's Perspective

Like most Muslim philosophers, ‘Allāmah Ṭabāṭabā’ī considers the principle of causality as a necessary proposition and counts it among the primary self-evident propositions, deeming its denial as departing from human nature. He views the principle of causality as irrefutable and distinct from the issue of basis of need. In line with this perspective, the main focus of the current research is to present and examine the most significant epistemological discussions around the principle of causality, with an emphasis on ‘Allāmah Ṭabāṭabā’ī's viewpoint. The key epistemological issues related to this principle are crystallized in its epistemological characteristics. Therefore, after reviewing various interpretations of the principle of causality in the introduction, we examine its epistemological characteristics (such as necessity, primary self-evidence, irrefutability, and analytical or compound nature) and elucidate its reasoning.The accomplishment of this study lies in the impossibility of establishing a real proof to demonstrate the principle of causality. Any argument put forth for its establishment, even if based on probabilities, is just to bring it to awareness or dialectical. This is because the validity of any argument, whether for or against, is based on accepting this principle, and without it, no argument can be established.