Al-Tanqih fi al-mantiq

 In the history of writing about logic, there have been three methods, as follows: the nine-part structure, the two-part structure, and a combination of the two-part and nine-part structures. al-Tanqih fi al-mantiq by Mulla Sadra, in addition to enjoying a logical structure, due to its logical analysis of issues, has been written following the two-part method.

This book consists of nine parts. Therefore, at first sight, it might be assumed that his logic consists of nine parts. Not only this work but also many of the recent two-part writings on logic consist of nine major parts. This is not because of their nine-part logical structure, but because of preserving the form of the Aristotelian tradition.

Mulla Sadra has written this book in nine parts, each consisting of several chapters. He has called the parts and chapters ishraq and lum'ah, respectively, and presented the themes of each ishraq using sometimes Aristotelian terms and sometimes the common contemporary terms.

The first ishraq, entitled Isagogic, in addition to the five-fold general issues, includes the definition of logic, study of signification, and the four-fold relations. The second ishraq is on "definitions". The third ishraq, by resorting to the Aristotelian words Bari Arminas deals with the definition and types of propositions. The fourth discusses "permissibles", "contradiction", and "contrary". Entitled the "secondary combination", the fifth ishraq is on syllogism, which Aristotle discusses under the "first analysis". In choosing the title "combination", Mulla Sadra has been influenced by Tusi, who called syllogistic composition as opposed to the composition of propositions composition or secondary combination. The sixth ishraq is devoted to "syllogism per impossible", and the seventh explains the three-fold types of "reasoning". The eighth and ninth ishraqs are on "argument" and "sophistry", which have been written, more or less, following the method of al-Isharat.

al-Tanqih fi al-mantiq has been published with edition and research by Dr. Gholamreza Yasipur and an extensive Introduction by Dr. Ahad Faramarz Qaramaliki under the supervision of Professor Seyyed Mohammed Khamenei in 140 pages by the Sadra Islamic Philosophy Institute.