Molla Sadrâ’da Vâcibü’l-Vücûd’un İspatında Burhan-ı Fıtrat
Innate Disposition in Mulla Sadra’s Proof of the Necessary Being

Summary/Abstract: Mulla Sadra has explained various proofs regarding the existence of the Necessary Being through different methods. The proofs of innate disposition/nature (fiṭrah) are one of these. These proofs of nature connect to the divine essence through immediate internal recognition, without the need for any intermediary. Mulla Sadra states that God can be known through a presence-based (ʿilm ḥuḍūrī) and actual mode of cognition. However, in the context of the proofs of nature, he attempts to prove God's existence solely through presence-based knowledge. He bases his proofs of nature on certain premises: the nobility of existence, the creation of existence, the dependent existence of the created, and presence-based knowledge. Understanding the proofs of nature depends on these premises. According to the proof of dependency witnessed by Mulla Sadra, all afflicted beings are manifestations of God and have no independent reality apart from their cause. He witnesses this with present knowledge. There is an intrinsic correlation between the dependent and that upon which it depends. Therefore, just as the dependent witnesses his own essence, he also witnesses the one upon whom it depends, that is, God. According to the proof of hope in despair, when hope in material phenomena is lost, hope arises within the human being’s essence. Every hope requires something hoped for. Because hope arises when there is no hope of using material means, what is hoped for is not limited but absolute. This study explains Mulla Sadra's proofs of nature and examines their adequacy in proving the Necessary Being.

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