An Analysis of the Conflict between “Corporal Manifestation of Soul” of Mulla Sadra and “Priority of Soul” in Tradition from the View of Transcendental Philosophy

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 PhD in Imamiyeh Theology, Tehran University

2 M.A in Islamic Theology and Philosophy, al-Zahra University

3 Associate Professor in Department of Philosophy, al-Zahra University

10.22034/ra.2019.67338.1989

Abstract

Mulla Sadra believes that Soul, at very beginning, is material in nature which become spiritual through substantial motion and then ascends through levels of spiritual perfection, arrives at absolute immaterialism and become free from want of body. In fact, soul is newborn of natural universe and fails to exist prior to corporal manifestation. However, in some traditional sources and quotation from immaculate Imams- which some narrators believe that are quoted through successive witness- the creation of souls is prior to creation of bodies. Since, Mullah Sadra is a Shiite philosopher, to interpret the issued narrations and Hadith from the holy prophet and Immaculate Imams; he relies on logical evidences and tries to explain them through logical reasoning. Accordingly, concerning the existence of soul before corporal manifestation and universe, he provides two interpretations; logical collaborative existence and spiritual human existence.

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