Abstract

Dividing beings into creative, inventive and existential types, Avicenna considers emanation and effusion,i.e. first intellect, as belonging to the creative being and yet believes that the universe has a creative nature when compared to the first cause since the universe including the primary matter is not precedent to any matter. This - the creation of the entire universe- is creation in the extensive sense vis-a-vis the particular sense which is typical of incorporeal beings.After expounding on effusion and its particularities, Avicenna analyses the existential activity believing that effect is separate from subject despite the fact thatboth are located in one place: such conjunction, however, is merely an existential conjunction.Confirming the official position of the Peripatetics on the possibility of the co-existence of the existential activity and effusion, Mulla Sadra has succeeded in clarifying the connection between the creator and the creatures by shedding light on the illuminative relation. As he considers effusion in depth and relates it to the illuminative relation, Mulla Sadra develops the Peripatetic's ideas in a most efficient way.