Islamic Ethics

by Mariam al-Attar

This book explores philosophical ethics in Arabo-Islamic thought. Examining the meaning, origin and development of "Divine Command Theory", it underscores the philosophical bases of religious fundamentalism that hinder social development and hamper dialogue between different cultures and nations. Challenging traditional stereotypes of Islam, the book refutes contemporary claims that Islam is a defining case of ethical voluntarism, and that the prominent theory in Islamic ethical thought is Divine Command Theory. The author argues that, in fact, early Arab-Islamic scholars articulated moral theories of value and theories of obligation. She traces the development of Arabo-Islamic ethics from the early Islamic theological and political debates between the Kharijites and the Murji’ites, shedding new light on the moral theory of Abd al-Jabbar al-Mu’tazili and the effects of this moral theory on post-Mu’tazilite ethical thought. Highlighting important aspects in the development of Islamic thought, this book will appeal to students and scholars of Islamic moral thought and ethics, Islamic law, and religious fundamentalism.

Genres: Islam, Philosophy

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[PRINCESS · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book explaining the philosophical ethics in Arabic-Islamic deliberations. Clarifying the theory behind the Creator’s authority and command, goes deep in explaining the root for all the ethical subjects in Islam by arguing with evidence, Quran, books and speeches narrated or mentioned by Islamic preachers and tracing development of Arabic-Islamic ethics and values from the early Islamic theological and political debates.