Theory of Archetypes and Emanation of Multitudes from the Real One

The idea of Platonic archetypes, which was a solution for some problems related to knowledge of things, a justification for multitudes and a way of finding stable ultimate beginning for variable creatures, soon caused many problems in epistemology and knowledge of things. In Islamic world, the idea has famous proponents and opponents. Three great Muslim philosophers- Avicenna, Sohrevardi and Mulla Sadra- have discussed the issue in detail. Avicenna has firmly rejected the idea while Sohrevardi and Mulla Sadra have greatly tried to prove it. Since the theory of Platonic archetypes is strongly connected with the theory of emanation multitudes from a real One, the present paper seeks to elaborate on the dilemmas faced by the theory of emanation multitudes from a real One with regard to the idea of Platonic archetypes, and reviewing arguments of proponents and opponents.