scientific journal Political Sociology of the Islamic Revolution

Analyzing the Possibility of Explaining Moral Philosophy Based on fitrah (natural rights): The Viewpoint of Muttahari

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Sareh Larijani 1
Ali Larijani 2

1 Assistant Professor of Women's Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Ahlul Bayt International University (AS).

2 Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Literature, University of Tehran

Abstract
One of the fundamental issues in the history of philosophy is the examination of the philosophical foundations of ethics, whose influence extends into fields such as political philosophy. In the classical philosophical tradition, wisdom was divided into two branches: theoretical and practical. Theoretical wisdom concerned the understanding of existential realities, while practical wisdom focused on values and normative principles in ethics and politics (tadbir al-madinah). A central question is the logic governing practical wisdom. While demonstrative reasoning (burhani) governs theoretical wisdom, it remains debatable whether the same logical structure can be applied to practical wisdom.

This paper aims to examine the role of fitrah in moral philosophy from the perspective of Mutahhari and to elucidate the foundations of Islamic ethics. The key research question is: How can universal and enduring moral principles be established based on the theory of fitrah? The hypothesis of this study is that Mutahhari, by emphasizing human fitrah and the duality of human existence (the lower and higher dimensions), defines ethics as a set of universal obligations rooted in the higher dimension of human nature.

The research employs an analytical and descriptive methodology, drawing upon Mutahhari’s works and the conceptual analysis of his views. The findings suggest that Mutahhari presents the theory of fitrah not only as a foundation for ethics but also as a response to the challenges of moral relativism and pragmatic ethical theories. Ultimately, his perspective on moral principles is grounded in a common human nature and directed toward spiritual perfection.

Keywords

Mutahhari
Fitrah (Innate Nature)
Moral Philosophy
Moral Relativism
Moral Principles
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scientific journal Political Sociology of the Islamic Revolution
Volume 5, Issue 3 - Serial Number 19
Autumn 2024
Pages 299-321

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