A Comparative Study of Divine Will in the Philosophy of Spinoza and Ustād Muṭahharī

Document Type : علمی پژوهشی

Authors

• Zahrā Rasūlī
• Muḥammad Kāẓim ‘Ilmī

10.22067/philosophy.v40i2.3173

Abstract

This writing addresses Divine Will from the viewpoints of the two great philosophers, Ustād Muṭahharī and Spinoza. It aims at clarifying the similarities and discrepancies existing in their viewpoints concerning the question whether God has a Will or not; and in case He does, is His Will absolute and free? In this line, the article proceeds to compare the views of the two philosophers on the following issues: Divine Intellect, Divine Will, the relation of intellect and will to God, God's Power, the relation of free will to God or Divine Destiny and Providence, unfree agent (mūjab), necessary through the Other (wājib bi al-ghayr), God's free Will, God's Knowledge as being active.
Keywords: Ustād Muṭahharī, Spinoza, Divine Will, Divine Knowledge, Divine Destiny and Providence, God's Power, predestination and free will, mūjab, wājib bi al-ghayr, God's Knowledge as being active, the relation of intellect and will to God.

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