Ma`rifat

The subject of ways to understand ethical propositions is considered one of the issues in the epistemology of ethics, and this article discusses this topic from the perspective of Imam Khomeini. He philosophically explains reason, revelation, consensus, human nature, and ethical intuition as ways to recognize ethical propositions. Emphasizing the necessity of recognizing the intrinsic nature of goodness and badness, he points to the role that reason plays in identifying these concepts, and presents revelation as a source of confirmation and complement to ethical rulings. Attention to human nature and ethical intuitions are other aspects of the epistemological viewpoint of Imam Khomeini, demonstrating the significance of self-awareness in the process of understanding ethical propositions. It seems that while there are positive aspects to Imam Khomeini's perspective, some ambiguities exist in this viewpoint, such as the claim that certain ethical propositions, like the badness of lying, are rationally inherent according to him. However, this statement becomes less clear when it is detailed; for instance, lying to an enemy to keep secrets, from Imam Khomeini’s perspective, falls outside the category of lying, which raises an issue without a rational basis and creates ambiguity. Additionally, the status of human nature as an independent means of understanding is also subject to dispute.