Abstract

The subject of the present research is the concept-referent relation in Mulla Sadra's system of philosophy. It also aims to demonstrate the hypothesis of the correspondence of the different types of imaginative concepts and referents. Moreover, based on the principles of the Transcendent Philosophy as well as the principle of the correspondence of the worlds and the quiddative unity of realities, this research proves the conformity between imaginative concepts and their referents.Concerning particular quiddative concepts, the representatives of natural forms in the soul are justified through the actualization of perceptive forms. However, when it comes to universal quiddative concepts, the conformity between the concepts and the referent is justified through: 1) the unity of the soul with the active intellect, 2) the observation of intellectual forms, and 3) the natural universal and individuals. Secondary logical intelligibles, which are among the accidents of primary intelligibles, have a corresponding relation to mental referents . In addition, philosophical secondary intelligibles, except those concepts lacking in an actualized mental and external nature, have external referents. Mulla Sadra's proof in this regard is that in the receptacle of each relation there are two sides. Therefore, a philosophical secondary intelligible bears an unveiling relation to its external object and corresponds to it