Basics of Self-Determination: A Comparative Study of Kant and Imam Khomeini's Perspectives

Moazeni, Rouholla; Faghih Abdollahi, Ome Leila; Saadati Khamseh, Esmaeil

doi:10.22059/jstmt.2024.378862.1721

Document Type : Research Article / Original Article

Authors

¹ Associate Professor of Public Law, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.

² Ph.D. Student in Public Law, Faculty of Law, University of Qom, Qom, Iran.

³ Associate Professor of Philosophy, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.22059/jstmt.2024.378862.1721

Abstract

This research aims to examine and compare the basics of the right to self-determination from the perspectives of two prominent thinkers, Immanuel Kant and Imam Khomeini. The main objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between the philosophical and political thoughts of these two scholars regarding the right to self-determination and to analyze the similarities and differences in their intellectual basics. The research method is descriptive-analytical and based on a comparative approach, and the research data was collected through library resources. The research findings indicate that the right to self-determination in Kant's thought emphasizes it as a fundamental human right based on absolute will, individual freedom within the framework of moral duty, and legal principles. In contrast, Imam Khomeini, with a theological approach and utilizing Islamic jurisprudence, interprets this right within the context of divine will. In Imam Khomeini's philosophy, human will be defined in harmony with divine will, and the divine dimension of duty plays a crucial role in realizing this right. The results of this research show that although both thinkers acknowledge the right to self-determination as a fundamental human right, the difference in their philosophical basics, particularly Kant's emphasis on individual freedom and Imam Khomeini's emphasis on divine will, has created two different approaches to interpreting this right.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Comparative study of Islamic and non-Islamic thinkers

References

Holy Quran

Akhtarshahr, A. (2015). The Requirements of Justice and Freedom in Imam Khomeini’s Political Thought. Scientific Quarterly Journal of Islamic Revolution Studies, 12(42), 175–192. (in Persian)[In Persian].

Ameriks, K. (2019). Kantian Subjects Critical Philosophy and Late Modernity. Oxford University Press.

Asgari, E. (2021). A comparative study of the concept of freedom in Imam Khomeini's Thought and Western Thought. Political Thought in Islam, 8(30), 75-98. (in Persian)[In Persian].

Aune, B. (1979). Kant’s theory of morals. Princeton University Press.

Basile, G. Pietro, & Lyssy, A. (2022). System and Freedom in Kant and Fichte. Routledge.

Beck, G. (2012). Autonomy, History and Political Freedom in Kant’s Political Philosophy. History of European Ideas, 25(1999), 217–241.

Berroterán, A. M. (2023). Human Dignity and the Kingdom of Ends. Kantian Perspectives and Practical Applications. Ed. by Jan-Willem van der Rijt and Adam Cureton. New York/London: Routledge, 2022. 340 pages. ISBN: 978-0-367-46001-3.

Cassirer, E. (1995). Rousseau, Kant, Goethe, translated by Hasan Shamsavari and Kazem Firoozmand. Tehran, Iran: Nashr-e Markaz. (in Persian)[In Persian].

Constitution of Islamic Republic of Iran, enacted in 1979. (in Persian)[In Persian]

Dabirnia, A. (2016). Founding power: An exploration into the basics of modern constitutional law. Tehran: Pazhuheshkadeh Hoquqi-e Shahr-e Danesh. (in Persian)[In Persian]

Dudley, W. & Engelhard, K. (2014). Immanuel Kant Key Concepts (p. 248). Routledge.

Email, P. (2017). Kant After Marx. Kantian Review, 22(4), 579–598. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1369415417000280

Fauzi, Y. (2003). Collective identity from the perspective of Imam Khomeini. Pajouheshnameh Matin, 5(19), 61-96. (in Persian)[In Persian].

Freeman, M. (2019). The Right to Self-Determination: Philosophical and Legal Perspectives. New England Journal of Public Policy, 31(2), 8.

Guyer, P. (2016). kant (second edit). Routledge.

Hiller, D. R. (2018). Dos concepciones de la razón: una confrontación de Thérèse Philosophe con la filosofía moral kantiana. Anuario De Letras Modernas, 20, 99–108. https://doi.org/10.22201/ffyl.01860526p.2016.20.517

Holder, C. (2006). Self-determination as a universal human right. Hum Rights Rev 7, 5–18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12142-006-1000-0

Husseini-Zargar, S. (2017). Man’s Will in the Eyes of Islamic Philosophers (Avicenna, Mulla Sadra, Allama Tabatabai and Imam Khomeini) . Nasim-e Khord, 3(2), 103-119. (in Persian)[In Persian].

Jamsheidi, M. H. (2005). Political thought of Imam Khomeini (ra). Tehran: Pazhuheshkadeh Imam Khomeini va Enqelab-e Eslami. (in Persian)[In Persian].

Kant, I. (1962). “Groundwork of metaphysic of morals”, tr, Paton, H.J, pp, 53-123, In: The Moral Law, London, Hutchison University Liberty.

Kant, I. (1972). “Groundwork of metaphysic of morals”, tr, Paton, H.J, pp, 53-123, In: The Moral Law, London, Hutchison University Liberty.

Kant, I. (1990). Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals. (H. Enayat & A. Ghaisari, Trans.). Tehran: Khwarazmi Publishing Company. (in Persian)[In Persian].

Kant, I. (2004). Metaphysics of Morals: Basics of the Metaphysics of Morals (Philosophy of Law) , 2nd ed. Nashr-e Naqsh-o Negar Publications. (in Persian)[In Persian].

Kant, I. (2009). Idea for a Universal History with a Cosmopolitan Aim. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511581434.002

Kant, I. (2009). Religion within the boundaries of mere reason. (M. Sane'i Dareh Bid'i, Trans.). Tehran: Naqsh-o Negar Publications. (in Persian)[In Persian].

Kant, I. (2021). Philosophy of Law. (M. Sane'i Dareh Bid'i, Trans.). Tehran: Naqsh-o Negar Publications. (in Persian)[In Persian].

Keskin, O. (2021). Peoples’ Right to Self-Determination: From a Political Ideal to an Ever-Evolving Legal Right. İstanbul Hukuk Mecmuası. 79. 303. 10.26650/mecmua.2021.79.1.0009.

Keykha, N. (2008). Philosophical basics of ethics and politics in the interpretations of Imam Khomeini. Pajoohesh va Hoozeh, 9(34-35), 62-82. (in Persian)[In Persian].

Khosravi, H. (2009). Democratic election rights. Tehran: Majd Publications. (in Persian)[In Persian].

Korkh, O. M., & Khmil, V. V. (2024). Kant’s Philosophy and the Idea of the Self-Made-Man. Anthropological Measurements of Philosophical Research, (25), 124-132.

Laitinen, A. & Mayr, E. & Sandis, C. (2018). Kant and Hegel on purposive action. Philosophical Explorations. 21. 1-18. 10.1080/13869795.2017.1421693.

Lee, S. (2012). Self-Determination and the Categories of Freedom in Kant’s Moral Philosophy. Kant-Studien. 103. 10.1515/kant-2012-0022.

Liddel, B.E.A. (1970). Kant on the foundation of morality: a modern version of the grundlegung, Bloomington and London, Indian University Press.

Lihua, H. (2023). Kant’s View of Supreme Goodness and Moral Self-Discipline and Virtue. Journal of Sociology and Ethnology, 5(6). Clausius Scientific Press, Canada. DOI: 10.23977/jsoce.2023.050609. ISSN 2616-2318.

Mahdavi, S. A. (2016). Kant's political philosophy: Political thought in the scope of theoretical philosophy and ethics. 3rd ed. Negah-e Mo'aser Publications. (in Persian)[In Persian].

Mousavi Khomeini, S. R. (1994). Misbah al-Hidayah ila al-Khilafah wa al-Wilayah, with an introduction by Seyyed Jalal al-Din Ashtiani. Mo'asseseh Tanzim va Nashr Asar-e Imam Khomeini (ra). (in Persian)

Mousavi Khomeini, S. R. (1998). Sharh Hadith Junud Aql wa Jahl. Mo'asseseh Tanzim va Nashr Asar-e Imam Khomeini (ra). (in Persian)

Mousavi Khomeini, S. R. (2011). Sahifeh Imam (22 volumes). Mo'asseseh Tanzim va Nashr Asar-e Imam Khomeini (ra). (in Persian)[In Persian].

Naderi, M., & Haji Hasan, M. (2016). The theoretical and practical dimensions of obligation in the political thought of Imam Khomeini. Rahyaft-e Enqelab-e Eslami, 10(37), 95-116. (in Persian)[In Persian].

Paton, H.J (1953), The Categorical Imperative. London, Hutchison’s University Liberty.

Poladi, K. (2005). From the government of power to the government of reason in modern political philosophy. Tehran: Markaz Publishing. (in Persian)[In Persian].

Sane'i Dareh Bid'i, M. (1999). Freedom and liberty in Kantian philosophy. Nameh-ye Falsafeh, 8, 89-100. (in Persian)[In Persian].

Sane'i Dareh Bid'i, M. (2005). The relationship between right and duty in the political system from Kant's perspective. Hekmat va Falsafeh, 1(2), 7-21. (in Persian)[In Persian].

Sane'i Dareh Bid'i, M. (2015). The place of man in Kant's thought (2nd ed.). Qoqnoos Publishing. (in Persian)[In Persian].

Seyyedhashemi, S. M. I., & Mousavi Kho, S. S. A. (2011). Divine will and its relation to human free will from the perspective of Imam Khomeini. Ayeneh Ma'aref, 11(4). (in Persian)[In Persian].

Stohr, K. (2022). Choosing Freedom: A Kantian Guide to Life. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted in 1948. (in Persian)[In Persian]

Vara'i, S. J. (2014). Imam Khomeini and the right to determine destiny. Scientific-Research Quarterly of Siyasat-e Motale'eh, 2(4), 43-60. (in Persian)[In Persian].

Ville, J. De. (2020). Freedom and Democracy: From Kant to Derrida. Law, Culture and the Humanities, 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1177/1743872120956557

Ware, O. (2017). Kant’s deductions of morality and freedom. Canadian Journal of Philosophy. 47. 1-32. 10.1080/00455091.2016.1235856.

Weitz, E. (2015). Self-Determination: How a German Enlightenment Idea Became the Slogan of National Liberation and a Human Right, The American Historical Review, Volume 120, Issue 2, Pages 462–496, https://doi.org/10.1093/ahr/120.2.462

Williams, H. (2017). The Political Philosophies of Kant and Marx. Kantian Review, 22(4), 619–640. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1369415417000309

Wood, A. W. (2017). Kant, translated by Aqil Fuladi. Tehran, Iran: Negah-e Mo'aser. (in Persian)[In Persian].

Zamani, S. G., & Ajeli Lahigi, M. (2020). Bases of the right to self-determination in the context of the philosophical concepts of international law. Taaliye Hoquq, 6(2), 110-136. doi: 10.22034/thdad.2021.508030.1545. (in Persian).

Journal of Social Theories of Muslim Thinkers

Basics of Self-Determination: A Comparative Study of Kant and Imam Khomeini's Perspectives

References

References

Volume 14, Issue 4
December 2024
Pages 81-100

Basics of Self-Determination: A Comparative Study of Kant and Imam Khomeini's Perspectives

References

References

Volume 14, Issue 4December 2024Pages 81-100

Volume 14, Issue 4
December 2024
Pages 81-100