Imam Khomeini's Ethical Viewpoint

Accepting the rationality good and evil, Imam Khomeini believes that like the statement propositions, the dignity of the moral propositions is the same as dignity of discovery and he argues that the ethical commandments are also absolute and non-relative; however, in differentiating correct actions from incorrect ones, the reason requires religion. In regard to ethical commandments, Imam Khomeini is deontological and pays serious attention to results and virtues. In his ethical thought, deontologism is inseparable from consequentialism and virtue-oriented ethics because he introduces good and evil as the foundation of ethics while happiness is considered as the purpose of ethics to him. Meanwhile, he believes that reaching happiness or desirable consequence as well as educating virtuous human is impossible except through fulfilling the duties being determined for human by reason and religion. According to ethical viewpoint of Imam Khomeini, reason is necessary but insufficient; therefore, religion and reason have gone hand in hand to guide human to the ultimate goal. Also, in his viewpoint, ethical commandments are absolute and non-relative the ethical propositions are originated from real and good and evil things. Therefore, there are constant and permanent ethical values that prepare paths of virtue and happiness for human.