The Journal of Political Thought in Islam

The Journal of Political Thought in Islam

Semantics of Human Self-willing and Will from the Perspective of Imam Khomeini and the Late Wittgenstein

Document Type : Original Article

Author
Assistant Professor in Mysticism, Research Institute of Imam Khomeini and Islamic Revolution
10.22034/jpti.2026.571069.1494
Abstract
My purpose in this article is to examine, clarify, explain, analyze, and criticize, the meaning of human self-willing and will from the perspective of Imam and the late Wittgenstein and then compare the thoughts of that mystic wise and this wise philosopher. In our Islamic tradition, the discussion of human self-willing has a theological root, but Imam Khomeini gives a philosophical-mystical answer to this problem, and therefore, in the meantime, the Imam's view is more focused on the limits and gaps of human self-willing, but Wittgenstein on the question of human will regardless of It looks at religious aspects. Although Imam's main treatise on self-willing is entitled will, Imam's foundation is more about explaining human self-willing rather than analyzing the meaning of human will; a problem that is the main concern of the late Wittgenstein. In fact, by adopting a middle approach in the issue of predestination and delegation, Imam considers man to be free in his actions and does not consider causal necessity and Divine Knowledge, Will, and Power as an obstacle to man's freedom. But what the late Wittgenstein is looking for is the analysis of the meaning of willing, which he equates with trying, because he considers trying and intending to be of the type of willing, just as he considers believing and judging to be of the type of thinking. Imam considered to be voluntary of the will to be doubtful and the late Wittgenstein also believes that talking about willing of the will does not make sense.
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