فصلنامه پژوهش های فلسفی - کلامی
سال پانزدهم شماره 4 (پیاپی 60، تابستان 1393)

Infinite chain means endless sequence or dependence of one thing on another thing. Numerous proofs have been offered for the impossibility of endless chain, the most important of which are four proofs of Side and Amid, the Firmest and Most Concise, Applied and Existence, Copulative existence and Independent. Mirdamad believes that proofs for infinite chain go only through ascending hierarchy and that succession and co-existence are conditions for impossible endless chain. Allamah Mohammad Hussein Tabatabaii, however, believes that proofs for endless chain go through both ascending and descending hierarchies and that three conditions of actuality, sequence, and co-existence are conditions for impossible infinite chain. The present paper proves that proofs for the impossibility of infinite chain go only through ascending hierarchy and have nothing to say about descending hierarchy. Impossible infinite chain has two conditions of sequence and co-existence and infinite chain is impossible only in complete causes.

Wilfred Madelung is one of the most prominent and influential specialists in the field of Shi‘a studies in contemporary world. Contrary to the most works of western specialists in the field of Islam and Shiism, his works are greatly successful in knowing and defining different aspects of Islam, such that they are welcomed and accepted even in Islamic and Shia societies. It seems that a considerable portion of this success is due to his attention to methodological points. His works related to Shia studies have particular merits or research features in comparison to the works of other western specialists in Shia studies, the most important of which are as follows: taking into consideration authentic and valid Islamic and Shiite sources, thematic and methodological differentiation of sources, taking into consideration the atmosphere and history of events and teachings, understanding the teachings along the line of a thinking system, a relatively complete mastery over different dimensions of Islam, exact knowledge of scientists and their valid works and mastery over Arabic language with which Madelung could attract the attention and even admiration of Muslims and Shias to his works. The observance of aforementioned points by Madelung has made scholars to differentiate him from ignorant and biased Orientalists and include him among just researchers. The present paper examines the methods and sources as well as research methods used by Madelung to introduce Shiism to western societies and tries to show the distinctiveness and superiority of his works by comparing them with the works of some other western specialists in Shia studies.

Wilfred Madelung is one of the most prominent and influential specialists in the field of Shi‘a studies in contemporary world. Contrary to the most works of western specialists in the field of Islam and Shiism, his works are greatly successful in knowing and defining different aspects of Islam, such that they are welcomed and accepted even in Islamic and Shia societies. It seems that a considerable portion of this success is due to his attention to methodological points. His works related to Shia studies have particular merits or research features in comparison to the works of other western specialists in Shia studies, the most important of which are as follows: taking into consideration authentic and valid Islamic and Shiite sources, thematic and methodological differentiation of sources, taking into consideration the atmosphere and history of events and teachings, understanding the teachings along the line of a thinking system, a relatively complete mastery over different dimensions of Islam, exact knowledge of scientists and their valid works and mastery over Arabic language with which Madelung could attract the attention and even admiration of Muslims and Shias to his works. The observance of aforementioned points by Madelung has made scholars to differentiate him from ignorant and biased Orientalists and include him among just researchers. The present paper examines the methods and sources as well as research methods used by Madelung to introduce Shiism to western societies and tries to show the distinctiveness and superiority of his works by comparing them with the works of some other western specialists in Shia studies.

One of the important issues discussed in religious texts under the rubric of man's divine vicegerency is the necessity of being a vicegerent in the world. Following religious texts, mystical ontology has dealt with the necessity of a vicegerent, i.e. the perfect man. In addition to Islamic mysticism, the issue has been differently discussed in different Islamic sciences such as theology (Kalam) and philosophy, each of which addresses the issue from its specific intellectual angle and with regard to its specific foundations. Having reviewed the hadiths narrated by Holy Prophet's household (peace be upon them), the present paper elaborates on the necessity of vicegerency from the view of Islamic mysticism and clarifies the degree of conformity of mystic's explanation with infallible Imam's school.

In Heidegger's view, the essence of new technology is a kind of unveiling which calls man to violate the nature and asks him to organize it as a source of energy saving. In this kind of unveiling, existence is completely forgotten and modern man is threatened by homelessness and nihilism. In Heidegger's view, contemporary man can free himself from technology and find a delivering power in it by reflecting on its essence. Art and poetry as its best instance can deliver man form nihilism. Heidegger's lecture in 1954 entitled "A Question Concerning Technology" depicts how he has developed aforementioned approaches. The present paper explores those obstacles faced by Heidegger's audience to grasp his intellectual results about the essence of technology. Then it asks all specialists of Heidegger's works, who may read this paper, to provide a better ground for his thought by removing these obstacles and providing reasonable answers to these questions, if possible; otherwise, they should accept that Heidegger's method in his contemplation on technology is useless and admit that we cannot achieve independent results through following the way depicted by Heidegger.

In Allamah Mohammad Hussein Tabatabaii's view, the essence of justice is equality and balance among things, such that everything is placed in its deserved position. He believes that justice is coextensive and concomitant of goodness. On the other hand, in his Al-Mizan Commentary, he bases divine acts on rational goodness and badness. In his view, therefore, divine command and forbiddance are based on justice as well. In philosophical and theological books, he resorts to several transmitted and intellectual proofs to prove divine justice. The present paper attempts to review some of these proofs which Tabatabaii believes can be used to prove divine justice. Some of these proofs are the proof of Necessary Existence by itself, God's being by essence, proof of the Righteous, and proof of Providence.