Document Type : Original Article
Abstract
One of the ethical problems in the mystical systems which are based on Unity of Being is how to explain the nature of moral responsibility. Ibn Arabi believes that there exists no reality except God, and that every action – whether good or bad – is Divine act. The seeming consequence of this belief can only be “absolute determinism” and the removal of human responsibility in his actions. Nevertheless – by ascribing a certain kind of freedom of choice to human beings – mystics consider humans responsible for their actions. To solve this outward contradiction, special attention should be paid to the notions of “unity of being” and “Divine manifestation in the form of human”. Man is the perfect manifestation of Divine attributes – and since God evidently has power and freedom – man is also compelled to have freedom. God is the actual agent of human actions, because God’s being and human’s being are the same: Divine essence is the stage of undifferentiation, while cosmos essence is the stage of differentiation. Therefore, if we consider the case from the "unity of being" point of view, there will not exist anything but God; consequently, every action will be God’s action. But if we look at the case from "the plurality of being" point of view, human being will possess a kind of being and consequently will be the agent of his own actions. In mysticism, human soul – which is considered as his reality – is responsible for his organs and faculties, as well as God and others. The above-mentioned cases have been acknowledged by Mulla Sadra and the majority of his followers, persuading them to advance intellectual arguments to it by philosophical discourse.
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