Secondary Causes and the Connection of Multiplicity to Unity: Mulla Sadra's Views

Among main discussions of Islamic Philosophy is the how of emerging the multiple existents or the diverse things caused from the single source, technically known as the connection of multiplicity to unity. On the basis of belief in foundations such as principle of Divine unity, His causality, absolute agency of God, the principle of al-Wahid (from Unity only unity can issue forth), gradation of existence as well as the theory of nobler possibility, some Islamic philosophers seek to explain the relationship between multiple existents and the single ultimate cause. The most significant philosophical attitude in this regard is the theory of "secondary causes of existence" or "secondary causes of emanation" discussed by Muslim philosophers, specifically Mulla Sadra. The author in this paper attempts to explain the theory of secondary causes, enumerate its basic principles, elucidate the arguments-for, and finally to response some major doubts.