Avicenna

4. The Hierarchy of Being

Avicenna elaborates on the concept of the “Great Chain of Being,” which posits a hierarchical structure to existence. This framework resonates within Shia cosmology, where the Prophet Muhammad and the Imams occupy a prominent cosmic status. Avicenna posits that the universe consists of a series of emanations from the First Cause—God. Each level of being possesses varying degrees of perfection, culminating in the human intellect’s potential to acquire knowledge and strive towards understanding the divine. This hierarchical model establishes ethical imperatives within Shia thought concerning the human pursuit of knowledge and spiritual elevation.

5. Ethics: The Role of Reason in Moral Philosophy