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Allamah Misbah’s Puzzle … M. Legenhausen (41
phylogeny, has been refuted microorganisms, not even in
by modern biologists, the potency, until the matter is
phylogenetic question may appropriately formed. So, the
help to rebut the implication suggestion that the ascending
of the second horn of the motion would be an indication
dilemma. of the presence of the human
The question in the second spirit or rational soul would
horn is how to justify the have to be rejected at the
temporal coming to be of the phylogenetic level.
soul if the ascending motion There can be evolutionary
were present from the start. progress through species,
Phylogenetically speaking, we ascending substantial motion,
can trace the development of without the final stage being
organisms through the present as long as there has
geological periods until been ascent. The same could
vegetable life, animal life, and be said at the ontogenetic
finally human life appear. level.
From the beginning of the The embryo can develop
earth, we might surmise, there gradually until it is in
was ascending evolutionary possession of a soul without
motion, changes that brought the implication that the soul
with them the appearance of was there from the start of the
creatures with powers or ascending motion that led to
perfections not present in its generation.
earlier species. This would The problem with this
not mean that humanity or the rebuttal of the second horn is
human soul was somehow that the Neoplatonist view of
present even in the the soul to which Mulla Sadra
