Document Type : Original Article
Abstract
Motahari's various perspectives on ethics have been widely presented in his works. This article elaborates on his account of two significant ethical problems. The first problem is the criteria of ethical act. By assessing some ideas on this subject, i.e. emotive theory, conscious theory and the theory of will, he tries to introduce the theory of dignity as the basis of Islamic ethics. The second problem is the relationship between religion and ethics, and whether is it necessary for ethics to be based on a religion. In his answer to this question, Motahari argues that religion is the only grounds for ethics and that ethics without religion is like an expired banknote. On the other hand, he regards moral act of an atheist as a valuable act. By appealing to the broad meaning of religion and the distinction between individual ethics and social ethics, this article tries to eliminate the apparent contradiction from Motahari's statements.
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