A study of Martyr Sadr's view on goodness and badness

Exploring the question of goodness and badness, Martyr Sadr has aimed to explain the meaning of goodness and badness and their status in the station of realization and affirmation and typology of statements of goodness and badness. According to his view, interpretation of goodness and badness as “expediency and aftermath”, “deserving reward and punishment”, “deserving praise and blame”, “desire and instinct” is not correct but the authentic meaning of goodness and badness is the moral necessity which - regardless of the realm of conventions - has had actuality in the tablet of reality and is other than cosmic necessity. According to him, the difference between essential and canonical goodness and badness is substantial and is not limited to the quality of ascription. He has criticized some of justice-oriented ('adliyyah) theologians for proving essential and rational goodness and badness and regarded the two propositions of “justice is good” and “oppression is bad” as assertoric propositions. According to him, the propositions of goodness and badness are indemonstrable and are among certainties and Muhaqqiq Isfahani’s argument for their being among conventional proposition is not valid. Beside its strong points, Martyr Sadr’s view has some weak points which have been dealt with in the present article.