Sufi aspects of Avicenna’s Neoplatonic system of thought in ethics

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Tarbiat Modares University, Philosophy, Post-Doc

2 A philosophy professor at Tarbiat Modares University

10.29252/kj.2023.230422.1149

Abstract

Mystical ethics constitutes one of the three tiers of Avicenna’s Neoplatonic ethical structure. Like his other works on mysticism, Avicenna presents mystical ethics within the intellectual framework inherent in mystical thought itself. In other words, Avicenna's discussion of mystical ethics cannot be fully understood without considering the intellectual tradition of Sufism. However, due to the particular place of scientific ethics in his work, the volume of Avicenna’s writings on mystical ethics is quite limited. Therefore, in this article, other texts written within this intellectual framework are also employed to elaborate on some of the mystical aspects of his ethics. Through additional explanations of these texts, Avicenna’s brief statements are further expanded. Furthermore, the ethics presented in mystical texts encompasses a broad range of concepts, and Avicenna’s mystical ethics also briefly touches on many of these concepts. This article aims to focus solely on the concepts shared between Neoplatonic ethics and mystical ethics. The research will demonstrate that the source of these shared concepts is Sufi thought, although Avicenna found no conflict between them and the Neoplatonic structure of his ethical thought.

Keywords

Shinakht (A Persian Word Means Knowledge)
Volume 17, Issue 1 - Serial Number 89
September 2024
Pages 31-47

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History

  • Receive Date: 25 January 2023
  • Revise Date: 21 April 2023
  • Accept Date: 07 July 2023

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