The Correspondence of Thoughts on Determinism, Free Will, and Satisfaction (hūnsandī) from the Perspective of Intellectual Conflicts in Avestan and Middle Persian Texts

The concepts of Determinism and Free Will have always been among the most complex philosophical issues in global religious history, including within Iran. These ideas also hold a prominent role within Zoroastrianism. Given its ancient and diverse history, Zoroastrianism has been influenced by various religions and intellectual currents, leading to contrasting intellectual articulations. The intricate complexities of Determinism and Free Will, combined with the ambiguities of ancient Iranian religion, have given rise to meaningful concepts born from these ideological conflicts. One significant concept within Mazdyasna (Zoroastrianism) is that of Satisfaction (hūnsandī), which directly correlates with Determinism and Free Will. This research briefly reviews these concepts within Mazdyasna, focusing on hūnsandī and its surrounding intellectual currents as presented in Avestan and Pahlavi texts. Upon exploration, it appears that each distinct thought stream related to hūnsandī likely leans towards either Determinism or Free Will.