Abstract and Meta-abstract (Rational Being from the Viewpoints of Imam Khomeini and Mulla Sadra)

The issue of abstractness of man's soul is one of the most important issues in anthropology. The present study is an attempt to shed light on this issue from the viewpoint of the founder of transcendental philosophy and that of one of the followers of this school of thought, Imam Khomeini. In order to fulfill this task, the reasons for the abstractness of soul have been given in the field of rational reasons (eight reasons) and traditional reasons (five reasons).In his rational reasons, Imam Khomeini relies mainly on the reasons forwarded by Mulla Sadra while in some cases he put forth his own reasons as well. On the contrary, regarding the traditional reasons, he delves into the issue and elaborates these reasons.Overall, the two philosophers acknowledge the abstractness of the rational soul, which had been demonstrated by the followers of Aristotle. Mulla Sadra proves the abstractness of the rational soul during the interval between death and the Day of Judgment. Besides following him in this regard, Imam Khomeini in his traditional reasons maintains that the position of the rational soul is meta-abstract.