Posited Concepts in the Thought of Allama al-Hilli

Abstract

The historical development of concepts pertaining to theology and philosophy has caused considerable confusion within the intellectual sphere. The ambiguity associated with such concepts makes the understanding and interpretation of texts more difficult for the reader. Among these concepts is “posited concepts,” which stands in contrast to realities. The term was widely used in the texts of the medieval period and in subsequent periods.
The renowned Shiʿi scholar Allama al-Hilli (d. 726 AH) referred to concepts such as existence, causality, and unity as posited concepts. This study seeks to clarify the ambiguity surrounding this concept and to shed light on some of its ramifications by examining the writings of this prominent Shiʿi scholar.