Philosophical Thought

A New Analysis of Mulla Sadra’s Theory of Corporeal Origination and Spiritual Subsistence Based on Emergentism

Document Type : Original Research

Authors

S. Karimi
M. Tabstabaie

Department of Moral Philosophy, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran

https://doi.org/10.58209/jpt.5.3.417
Abstract
The theory of Jismāniyyat al-Ḥudūth wa Rūḥāniyyat al-Baqā’ (corporeal origination and spiritual subsistence) in Mulla Sadra’s philosophy is one of the most fundamental perspectives in explaining the nature and evolution of the soul. This theory dynamically explains the relationship between matter and form, holding that the human soul originates as a material phenomenon but ascends to a spiritual, immaterial level in its developmental process. In contrast, emergentism in contemporary philosophy of mind and science argues that new qualitative properties such as mind and consciousness emerge from the complex interaction of material components and possess causal efficacy irreducible to their physical bases. The present article provides a comparative analysis of Mulla Sadra’s theory within the framework of emergentism, identifying key similarities and differences. It further examines the metaphysical and epistemological foundations of both views, assessing their relevance to contemporary debates in philosophy of mind and artificial intelligence. Additionally, the present article offers a distinction between physical and immaterial consciousness based on Sadra’s view.

Keywords

Mulla Sadra
Soul
corporeal origination and spiritual subsistence
Emergentism
Philosophy of Mind
Consciousness
artificial intelligence
Subjects
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Philosophical Thought
Volume 5, Issue 3 - Serial Number 19
Summer 2025
Summer 2025
Pages 417-432

  • Receive Date 31 May 2025
  • Accept Date 03 August 2025
  • Publish Date 11 September 2025