The Problem of Personal Sameness: A Reconsideration of the Doctrine of Tajaddud al-Amsāl (Renewal of Similars) and Its Critical Analysis

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Ph.D. student of Transcendental Wisdom, Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

The theory of “Tajaddod al-Amthāl” (Renewal of Exemplars) in theoretical mysticism is proposed as an explanation for continuous creation and perpetual change in the cosmos. However, from a metaphysical standpoint, it faces a fundamental challenge regarding the absence of “personal identity” and “ontological identity.” This study, through a comparative analysis of various interpretations of Tajaddod al-Amthāl—including extended substantial motion, non-extended substantial motion, and sudden change (coming-into-being and perishing)—reveals that each of these interpretations is accompanied by a crisis of metaphysical identity. Moreover, the solutions proposed by mystics, such as the concept of “nafs-e rahmānī as the fixed substance of the world” and the “fixed essence”, intended to preserve substantial stability against apparent (accidental) changes, are, according to this study, inadequate and fail to fully address the fundamental issue of maintaining personal and ontological identity. The findings indicate that various interpretations of Tajaddod al-Amthāl all fall short in preserving personal and ontological identity, and the only defensible form is non-extended substantial motion, which, despite its high explanatory potential, still necessitates more precise metaphysical clarification. Using an analytical–descriptive approach, this study aims to resolve philosophical and epistemological ambiguities associated with the theory of Tajaddod al-Amthāl and contributes to a more cohesive and precise understanding of it within the tradition of Islamic mysticism and philosophy.

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References

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