Allamah Misbah’s Puzzle about the Emergence of the Soul in the Philosophy of Mulla Sadra
International Multidisciplinary Journal of Pure Life December 2, 2025 Mohammad Legenhausen
This paper examines criticism of Mulla Sadra's doctrine that the human soul begins as a corporeal substance and evolves into an incorporeal, eternal substance. The authors explore the main issues raised by Allamah Misbah, show how these relate to contemporary philosophical discussions, and suggest two defenses of Sadra's position: one inferred from Sadra's own works, and one drawing on contemporary philosophy. The paper argues that Sadra's view, despite criticism, can be defended against objections in the philosophy of mind, metaphysics, and Islamic theology.