Tabataba’i’s Theory of Natural Laws in Ethics: An Analytic and Critical Review
One of the most important issues in Islamic ethics is the origin of moral values. ‘Allama Tabataba’i, a contemporary Shi’ite scholar, has provided a theory for the origin of moral values in terms of the human nature. We analytically explicate his view in five steps, and then evaluate the justifiabil...
Authors: | ; |
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Tipo de documento: | Recurso Electrónico Artigo |
Idioma: | Inglês |
Verificar disponibilidade: | HBZ Gateway |
Journals Online & Print: | |
Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
Publicado em: |
Equinox Publ.
2020
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Em: |
Religious studies and theology
Ano: 2020, Volume: 39, Número: 1, Páginas: 74-90 |
Outras palavras-chave: | B
Nature
B Morality B Rationality B desires B Natural Law B Ṭabāṭabā’ī |
Acesso em linha: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
Resumo: | One of the most important issues in Islamic ethics is the origin of moral values. ‘Allama Tabataba’i, a contemporary Shi’ite scholar, has provided a theory for the origin of moral values in terms of the human nature. We analytically explicate his view in five steps, and then evaluate the justifiability of the theory. Prima facie, it seems that his formulation of the ethical theory of natural laws faces objections, such as the following: (1) since it is based on "existential guidance" (al-hidaya al-takwiniyya), which is a kind of non-volitional guidance, it fails to account for the human free will, (2) it falls short of explaining the "is-ought" problem - that of inferring values from facts (here, the human nature), (3) it is not compatible with some other views held by Tabataba’i, including the "principle of exploitation" (asl al-istikhdam), and (4) it is not in agreement with the Islamic method of following the right and avoiding natural desires. However, a closer look at his work reveals that he had already anticipated these objections and provided responses for most of them. Thus, his formulation of the theory of natural laws in ethics can be justified and defended. |
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ISSN: | 1747-5414 |
Obras secundárias: | Enthalten in: Religious studies and theology
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Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1558/rsth.36667 |