Sadr ad-Din Shirazi’s Doctrine of Being

Authors

  • Roland Pietsch Ukrainian Free University (Munich)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22240/sent36.01.006

Keywords:

Sadr ad-Din Shirazi, Being, entity, essence, quiddity, Thomas Aquinas, actus essendi, oblivion of being, Martin Heidegger

Abstract

The article examines the metaphysical doctrine of being of the great Iranian philosopher and theologian Sadr ad-Din Shirazi, who fundamentally renewed philosophy in Islamic world. The following aspects of this doctrine are considered: (1) primacy and hierarchy of being; (2) the distinction between the concept of being and the reality of being; (3) the difference between being and entity; (4) the difference between being and quiddity. The article shows the similarity of Sadr ad-Din Shirazi’s doctrine and certain Thomas Aquinas’s conceptions, especially his doctrine of the act of being (actus essendi). Both philosophers elaborated the ontological difference between being and entity (Sein und Seienden). Therefore, they can not be included in the “oblivion of being” tradition (Seinsvergessenheit) which is the main feature of the history of European metaphysics, according to Martin Heidegger.

Author Biography

Roland Pietsch, Ukrainian Free University (Munich)

Doktor of Divinity, Professor emeritus at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, professor of philosophy

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Published

2017-06-16

How to Cite

Pietsch, R. (2017). Sadr ad-Din Shirazi’s Doctrine of Being. Sententiae, 36(1), 6–16. https://doi.org/10.22240/sent36.01.006

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