The Place of Gnosis in the Ethical Theory of Ayatollah Javadi Amoli

Document Type : Original Research

Author
Hosein Ahmadi
Associate Professor, Department of Moral Philosophy, Research Center of Encyclopedia of Islamic Intellectual Sciences, Imam Khomeini Educational and Research Institute, Qom, Iran.
10.30497/prr.2025.244492.1832
Abstract
The purpose of ethics is one of the fundamental topics in moral philosophy, and Ayatollah Javadi Amoli has also addressed this issue. This study, using a descriptive-analytical method, examines his perspective on the subject. According to Ayatollah Javadi Amoli, gnosis (ma‘rifa) of divine truths constitutes the happiness (sa‘āda) of theoretical reason, while the happiness of practical reason lies in servitude (‘ubūdiyya) to God. Therefore, gnosis alone cannot be regarded as the sole factor in attaining happiness. Based on a semantic analysis of knowledge (‘ilm) and gnosis, and their distinction, he rejects the idea of God as a mere object of knowledge (ma‘lūm) and instead affirms His status as the object of gnosis (ma‘rūf). Thus, he assigns greater significance to gnosis over knowledge, particularly intuitive gnosis (al-ma‘rifa al-shuhūdīyya*), which he considers to have a stronger impact on achieving happiness. Ayatollah Javadi Amoli classifies knowledge into three levels: knowledge of certainty (‘ilm al-yaqīn), vision of certainty (‘ayn al-yaqīn), and reality of certainty (ḥaqq al-yaqīn). He defines knowledge of certainty as certain gnosis attained through acquired knowledge (al-‘ilm al-ḥuṣūlī), while vision of certainty, and reality of certainty belong to the domain of intuitive gnosis. In evaluating Ayatollah Javadi Amoli's perspective, it appears that cognition and inclination are the two primary factors in attaining happiness. Given its unique characteristics, intuitive gnosis can encompass both cognitive and inclinational dimensions in human beings. The extent to which an individual attains intuitive gnosis of God, corresponding to their existential capacity, determines the degree of their ultimate happiness.
Keywords
moral philosophy
Ayatollah Javadi Amoli
happiness
gnosis
knowledge
knowledge of certainty
vision of certainty
reality of certainty
Subjects
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