Pages: 44-53

Abstract

The relationship between ethics and politics is one of the most important and at the same time subtlest issues in the domain of political philosophy. Ibn Miskawayh Razi and Khajeh Nizamolmolk Tusi are known with two different approaches (the former is known in theoretical politics while the latter is known in political practice). This essay seeks to show their points of difference and commonalities on the relationship of ethics and politics with regard to their different approaches. Miskawayh is an advocate of a closer relationship between ethics and politics and thus ethical politics based on his guidance based politics. Accordingly, his views are more philosophical and religious and it is better to be called Islamic Wisdom approach. A review of the effects and conclusions of the research in the second part of the thesis has more clarified our mind regarding this conclusion. Khajeh Nizamolmolk, on the other hand, insists on power based politics and based on this notion of politics he prioritizes politics over ethics and prefers to pursue political ethics although we can find also ethical orations in his works. However, these ethical orations only have thematic value and are of instrumental bent. They have indeed been intended to solve the practical issue of the community and no moral intention underlies it. Miskawayh’s thought has pioneered and theorized the notion of civil ethics and Khajeh’s political heritage should be sought for in his pieces of advice regarding the necessity of justice and social order.