The Relationship between Knowledge and Mental Existence in Sadrolmotaalehin Theology

Mullah Sadra tried to detach, in some way, the problem of mental existence from knowledge and made an effort to determine the domain of each in his books. In Asfar, he set forth the issue of mental existence as a general concept and knowledge in the tenth stage of volume three of Asfar. Mulla Sadra considers mental existence as the shadow of knowledge. He holds that knowledge is an aspect of existence by which mental existence is produced. There is a substantial difference between knowledge and mental existence. Therefore, knowledge existence is essential but mental existence is shadowy. In other words, the existence of the former is independent and that of the latter is dependent, therefore, each of these two has its own place in philosophy. They differ in terms of their existence and not their validity. Knowledge is a level in speculative reasoning and in nature a sort of existence settled in the soul like other spiritual qualities such as piety, courage, etc. which are levels of practical reasoning.