The views of Fakhr al-Din al-Razi and Khajeh Nasir al-Din al-Tusi on the Ontology of Universals

The views of Fakhr al-Din al-Razi and Khajeh Nasir al-Din al-Tusi on the Ontology of Universals[1]

Dariush Babaeian[2], Mohammad Saeedimehr[3], Hossein Hooshangi[4]

Abstract

The problem of universals can be examined from two aspects: ontological one (the state of the external existence of universals) and epistemological one (our cognition of universals). This article mainly concerns with the ontological aspect. Both of Fakhral-Din Razi and Khajeh Nasir al-Din Tusi have furnished us with novel views and insights which, in spite of their significance and freshness, have not been yet studied seriously. This paper deals with their views on the ontology of universals. We conclude that they have almost similar opinions about the three different meanings of ‘kulli’ (universal) and three kinds of consideration of quiddity. Nevertheless, their elucidations and refinements of the ontological state of these three kinds of universals are totally different. Moreover, al-Razi’s view on the rational universal (al-kulli al-aqli) and Tusi’s interpretation of the natural universal (al-kulli al-tabi’ee) seem questionable.

[1] - Research Paper, Received: Confirmed:

[2]- Phd in Islamic Philosophy and Theology, Department of Philosophy, Faculty of law, Theology and Political Science, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran, (babaeiandariush@gmail.com).

[3] - Professor Department of Philosophy, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran. (Corresponding Author), (saeedi@modares.ac.ir).

[4] - Associate Professor Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Theology, Imam Sadegh (As) University, Tehran, Iran, (h.hooshangi@yahoo.com).