Self-developed and Self-actualized Man in Viewpoints of Imam Khomeini and Abraham Maslow

Self-development and self-actualization means moving towards ultimate perfection on the basis of individual capabilities and abilities. In fact, it is moving from inferior self to superior self. The self-actualized and self-developed people are those who try to actualize their genuine and God-like self – on the basis of the primordial nature of seeking perfection. They have gone beyond an animal life. In Imam Khomeini’s viewpoints self-developed people are those who have trampled upon the head of selfishness, i.e. they have annihilated the inferior self and attained the sublime self. His wayfaring is from the point of obedience to God to the point of glory of lordship. Maslow also speaks of the Godly nature of self-actualized people, but his definition of Godly is the status of the sages not of God. Imam Khomeini’s approach to self-developed and perfect man who has achieved the perfect level of self-development indicates that such a man enjoys the metaphysical and divine depth, while Maslow looks for the self-actualized and sublime people in the context of nature; although at times he speaks of metaphysics and spirituality as well.