A Study of Immortality of the Soul and its Relation to Happiness in Spinoza; Compared to the View of Mulla Sadra

Abstract

The problem of "immortality" - as an innate thing - can be studied from various aspects: revelatory, mystical, intellectual and philosophical. In this paper, Spinoza's conception of soul and immortality is critically analyzed while drawing on the principles of transcendental Philosophy. Spinoza, like Sadr al-Muta'llehin, believes in immortality of soul; but they differ by the fact that Spinoza denies, on the one hand, the substantiality of the soul and, on the other hand, believes that immortality is non-inclusive and acquired. Therefore, the acquisition of immortality for Spinoza is conditioned by gaining some qualifications and removal of some obstacles. Accordingly, only those souls experience immortality who are qualified by certain terms. Mulla Sadra, however, believes that immortality is genetic and essential for the soul, and therefore includes every single one. The conception and explanation of how immortality is acquired and how it relates to human happiness in Spinoza, compared with the view of Mulla Sadra, constitutes the most part of the paper. The method of this research is descriptive-analytic with critical approach.

Keywords

• spinoza
• soul
• immortality
• happiness
• transcendental philosophy