Ma`rifat Falsafi

“Metempsychosis” has been a preoccupation for those who have worked in the area of philosophical psychology since a long time. It has resonance in other philosophical investigations, as well as in theological discussions. Muslim philosophers have dealt with this issue from different perspectives, and most often have come to the conclusion that it is philosophically impossible. Shaykh Ishrāq, however, says something different in this regard. This article is an attempt at explaining Shaykh Ishrāq’s idea with reference to his original works. At the outset, the author presents a history of the idea of metempsychosis, different approaches to this theory, its various terminologies, its foundations, and the reasons behind its rejection by some scholars. At the end, he tries to elaborate on Shaykh Ishrāq’s viewpoint on the issue, as well as his evaluation of the philosophical and narrative arguments regarding the question of metempsychosis.