Adud al-Dīn al-Ījī's (d. 756/1355) Ethics al-Adudiyya, which continues the post-Fārābī line in Islamic ethical thought characterized by Ibn Miskawayh and Naṣīr al-Dīn al-Ṭūsī, is a very important work in that it succinctly reflects the general principles of practical philosophy (practical wisdom). The work, which attracted considerable attention especially in Ottoman and Iranian scholarly circles, became the focus of commentaries and glosses after its publication. One of these commentaries is Alā al-Dīn al-Qāzerūnī's Sharḥ al-Akhlāq al-Adudiyya.
As can be understood from the introduction and the following chapters of the work, the author, who builds his theoretical foundation on the idea of wisdom as well as practical approaches, emphasizes that the subject of the science of ethics is the states of the soul and the goal of the science of ethics is the perfection of the soul; he draws attention to two things in relation to the human being, who has been entrusted with the trust, to be the caliph of the earth: wisdom, which is knowledge competence, and might, which is practical competence. Stating that the human being, who has the ability to be the object of divine names in terms of being able to build the physical and spiritual worlds, is at a higher level than the angels in terms of reaching perfection, al-Kāzerūnī has a holistic view, as can be understood from the fact that he deals with ethics on the basis of knowledge and deeds (might).
ISBN: 978-975-17-3765-6
Release Date: January 2014
Publisher: Presidency of the Manuscript Society of Turkey
Page Count: 220
