Revisiting the application of the rule of Presupposition with an analytical approach to the opinions of Davani

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

• Maryam Ranjbar ¹
• Alimohammad Sajedi ²
• Saeed Rahimian ³

¹ Shiraz University

² Associate Professor of Shiraz University

³ professor of Shiraz University

10.22067/epk.2025.95142.1481

Abstract

Jalal al‑Din Dawani re‑examines the Rule of Presupposition by addressing the problems of circularity and infinite regress through a precise philosophical and logical approach. He rejects the assumption that both the subject and predicate must exist in the same locus of attribution , using negative and relational propositions (The sky is above the Earth( to support his argument. Dawani distinguishes between two kinds of external propositions according to their connection with the locus of realization , asserting that the relation between essence and existence is merely conventional or mental the external world being only the locus of the relation , not of realization. His major innovation is replacing Presupposition with Entailment , reformulating the rule as: “The affirmation of a thing for a thing entails the affirmation of that for which it is affirmed.” This resolves issues of dependence and precedence between subject and predicate. Dawani confines the rule’s application to the union of essential attributes with the essence , maintaining that their affirmation necessarily entails the affirmation of the essence itself, thus redefining unity and attribution within his logical framework.

Keywords

• unity
• Attribution
• Entailment
• rule of Presupposition
• Dawani

Main Subjects

• Islamic Philosophy and Kalam

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