Philosophical Predestination in Muhaqqiq Isfahan’s Thought

Philosophical predestination” states determinism in the light of philosophical issues such as “succession of wills”, the “rule of previous necessity”, and the “relation of divine will to the man’s volitional actions”. Muhaqqiq Isfahani has dealt with an analysis and evaluation of these issues with scrutiny and has proved the consistency of these philosophical issues with the agent’s free will. Through this study, it is clarified that in his thought, the criterion for an action’s being volitional is its being preceded by a will and not a will being preceded by another will, so that the succession of wills is necessary. The rule of previous necessity is not inconsistent with the agent’s free will; rather, it supports and confirms his free will. Similarly, the divine will is related to the man’s volitional actions limited by his will. In this article, Muhaqqiq Isfahani’s view regarding the philosophical predestination has been categorized, adjusted, explained and evaluated with a descriptive-analytical method