Essays in Philosophy and Kalam

Essays in Philosophy and Kalam

The Limitations of Intuitionist Rationality and the Horizons of Transcendent Happiness: A Critique of Henry Sidgwick's Theory from the Perspective of Ayatollah Javadi Amoli

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Abdullah HosseiniEskandian 1
Fereshteh Abulhassani Neiaraki 2
1 P.h.D Candidate of Islamic Theology, Tabriz University
2 Associate Professor, University of Mazandaran
10.22067/epk.2026.97175.1505
Abstract
Human happiness constitutes one of the central concerns of ethical systems. Every ethical theory, in accordance with its underlying principles and worldview, offers a distinctive conception of happiness and the means of attaining it. Henry Sidgwick, by advocating rationality and moral intuition, regards happiness as the ultimate end of ethics and the fundamental criterion for evaluating human actions. Grounded in rational hedonism, he seeks to maximize pleasure for the greatest number of individuals. In contrast, Ayatollah Javadi Amoli, drawing upon revealed teachings and the intellectual heritage of Transcendent Theosophy (al-Ḥikmah al-Mutaʿāliyah), conceives happiness from a broader perspective, identifying it with the ultimate end of human life, namely, proximity to God (qurb ilā Allāh). From his viewpoint, happiness is not confined to worldly pleasure and well-being but also encompasses the spiritual and existential perfection of the human soul. Employing a descriptive-analytical method with a critical approach, this study examines Sidgwick's conception of happiness within his ethical system and offers a critique of it from the perspective of Ayatollah Javadi Amoli. The findings indicate that Sidgwick's reliance solely on reason and moral intuition, while neglecting divine revelation and heavenly guidance, is insufficient for leading human beings to genuine happiness. Since human reason is inherently limited and fallible, it cannot independently comprehend all dimensions of reality. Accordingly, the attainment of true happiness ultimately requires the guidance of revelation and adherence to divine teachings.
Keywords
Henry Sidgwick
Intuitionistic Consequentialism
Ayatollah Javadi Amoli
Happiness
Moral Intuition
Subjects

Authors retain the copyright and full publishing rights. This is an open access article distributed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0)

Copleston, Frederick. Tārīkh Falsafah. translated by Ibrāhīm Dādjū, Tehran: Intishārāt-i ʻIlmī va Farhangī va Shurūsh, 2009/1387.
Driver, Julia. Payāmadgirāyī. translated by Shirzād Piykḥirfih, Tehran: Hikmat, 2016/1394.
Edwards, Paul. Falsafah Akhlāq. translated by Inshāallāh Raḥmatī, Tehran: Mūʾassisah-yi Farhangī Intishārāt Tibyān, 2000/1378.
Frankena, William K. Falsafah Akhlāq. translated by Hādī Ṣādiqī. Qum: Intishārāt Ṭāhā, 1998/1376.
Hare, J. Dīn va Akhlāq. translated by Mahdī Muḥammadī Aṣl. Tehran: Quqnūs, 2018/1396.
Javādī Āmūlī, ʿAbd Allāh. Adab Fanā-yi Muqarabān. Chāp-i  Awwal, Qum: Markaz Nashr Asrāʾ,  2013/1391.
Javādī Āmūlī, ʿAbd Allāh. Falsafah Ḥuqūq-i Bashar. Chāp-i  Dahum Qum: Markaz Nashr Asrāʾ, 2025/1404.
Javādī Āmūlī, ʿAbd Allāh. Nazāhat Qurān az Taḥrīf. Chāp-i  Shishum Qum: Markaz Nashr Asrāʾ, 2017/1395.
Javādī Āmūlī, ʿAbd Allāh. Qurān dar Qurān. Qum: Markaz Nashr Asrāʾ, 2018/1396.
Javādī Āmūlī, ʿAbd Allāh. Raḥīq Makhtūm. Chāp-i Shishum, Qum: Markaz Nashr Asrāʾ, 2020/1398.
Javādī Āmūlī, ʿAbd Allāh. Sharīʻat dar Āynih Maʿrifat. Chāp-i Haftum, Qum: Markaz Nashr Asrāʾ,  2014/1392.
Moore, George Edward. Mabānī Akhlāq. translated by Ghulām Ḥusayn Tavakulī va ʿAlī ʿAskarī Yazdī, Qum: Nashr Pazhūhishgāh-i ʿUlūm-i va Farhang Islāmī, 2007/1385.
Palmer, Michae. Masāʾil Akhlāq. translated by ʻAlī Riżā Āl Būyih. Tehran: Intishārāt-i Samt, 2010/1388.
Piykḥirfih, Shirzād. Fāyidihgirāyī. Tehran: Nigāh Muʿāṣir, 2016/1394.
Ṣāniʿī, Manūchihr. Falsafah Akhlāq dar Tafakur Gharb. Tehran: Shahid Beheshti University, 1990/1368.
Warnock, Mary. Falsafah Akhlāq dar Qarn Bistum. translated by Abū al-Qāsim Fanāyī, Qum:  Bustn-i Kitāb, 2002/1380.
Send comment about this article
Enter Name.
Enter a valid email address.
Enter a vaid affiliation.
Enter comments (At leaset 10 words)
CAPTCHA Image
Enter Security Code Correctly.
Essays in Philosophy and Kalam
Volume 58, Issue 1 - Serial Number 116
Spring & Summer 2026
September 2026
Pages 277-294

  • Receive Date 25 December 2025
  • Revise Date 20 January 2026
  • Accept Date 26 January 2026