Trans-categorical God, and the model of the relationship between essence and attributes according to Abul Hasan Ash'ari

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 University of Tehran, Faculty of Theology, Department of Philosophy of Religion

2 Professor of the Faculty of Theology, University of Tehran

10.22099/jrt.2024.49304.2992

Abstract

Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari has presented significant criticisms against the doctrine of divine simplicity or the identity of essence and attributes. Some philosophers within the analytical philosophy tradition have also voiced similar concerns about this doctrine. According to Ash'ari, the concept of divine simplicity leads to notions that are intuitively unreasonable and meaningless. In his perspective, embracing the doctrine involves personalizing attributes and accepting an external identity between them, both of which he argues are rejected by reason. In this paper, we delve into the metaphysical foundations of Ash'ari's viewpoint, outlining his primary criticisms of the doctrine of simplicity. We aim to demonstrate that, firstly, the nature of the trans-categorical God proposed by Ash'ari is incongruent with his metaphysical foundations, particularly concerning the object-property model. Secondly, we contend that proponents of the doctrine of simplicity present arguments with similar philosophical strength to Ash'ari's criticisms. Thirdly, we argue that his alternative theory falls short of addressing the issue of the relationship between essence and divine attributes, unless through a non-causal grounding theory.

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Journal of Religious Thought : A Quarterly Journal of Shiraz University

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 15 April 2024

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