Body, an Equivocal Substance in View of Suhrawardi

Although the famous view of philosophers about body is that it is a composite of the tow essences of the mater and form, the nature of body is nothing but quantitative part of substance in view of Suhrawardi and philosophical school of illumination. Accordingly, bodies are sharing in this quantity and their differentiation is also in that quantity. So, in fact distinguishing factor and common factor goes back to one thing. Referring of the distinguishing factor to common factor in the nature of the body means that there is gradation in the substantial nature of the body. Believing in gradation of bodies is result of believing in gradation in substance and this belief is the result of believing in gradation in essence which is regarded as one of the features of the thinking of Suhrawardi and the School of Illumination. Since the analysis of Suhrawardi point of view about the nature of the body helps understanding of the reality of the material world and knowing things from his perspective, this article analyzes this issue and his view of the nature of the body.