The current philosophical literature on God and abstract objects has taken an exhilarating turn in recent years. Although the discussion has remained broadly within the inherited Hellenic trichotomy of realism, nominalism and... more
The current philosophical literature on God and abstract objects has taken an exhilarating turn in recent years. Although the discussion has remained broadly within the inherited Hellenic trichotomy of realism, nominalism and conceptualism, nuanced metaphysical positions have been argued within that trichotomy. The debate assumes particular importance for classical theism in that one of its core doctrines is God as a “self-existent being” (qā’im bi-nafsihi; aseity), i.e. He exists by virtue of Himself. If abstract objects are entities that exist necessarily (as is claimed by its proponents), then that would imply a compromise of that doctrine. Moreover, it also leaves open the question of how they are to be accounted for. This short paper will explore some possible options open for the Islamic theist to account for abstract entities drawing on contemporary debates and ideas to enrich the philosophical positions espoused by Muslim thinkers in the formative and post-formative period.
