Beyond Neutrality: Identifying Nizārī Ismāʿīlī Footprints in Ṭūsī’s Nasirean Ethics

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Institute of Islamic Studies, McGill University, Canada

Abstract

In the Preamble of The Nasirean Ethics (Akhlāq-i Nāṣirī), Khwājah Naṣīr al-Dīn Ṭūsī (d. 672/1274), the outstanding philosopher and polymath of the time, claims neutrality towards any specific schools of thought, emphasizing that: “What is recorded in this book… is repeated from ancient and modern philosophers; not even a beginning is made to confirm the true or disprove the false, nor – in respect to our own convictions – do we engage to support any opinion or to condemn any particular school of thought.” This assertion of impartiality has significantly shaped modern interpretations of Ṭūsī's philosophical project, often leading scholars to view The Nasirean Ethics as a purely syncretic work devoid of a particular confessional leaning. Drawing upon methodologies from literary analysis, comparative studies, and intellectual history, this paper aims to challenge Ṭūsī’s aforementioned assertion throughout the initial chapter of The Nasirean Ethics (‘On Ethics’). By meticulously examining the linguistic choices, thematic developments, and subtle philosophical leanings within this foundational chapter, I will demonstrate how Ṭūsī, despite his stated neutrality, implicitly privileges certain ethical frameworks and philosophical positions. In so doing, I will bring the text into conversation with the author’s Ismāʿīlī-based treatises, specifically Paradise of Submission (Rawḍah-yi taslīm) and Contemplation and Action (Sayr wa sulūk). This comparative analysis will highlight the shared intellectual and theological foundations embedded at the core of these seemingly disparate books, revealing a profound and consistent underlying philosophical project that transcends the superficial claim of neutrality in The Nasirean Ethics. This paper will thus re-evaluate Ṭūsī’s intellectual trajectory, arguing for a more integrated understanding of his diverse philosophical output.

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References

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Journal of Philosophical Investigations
Volume 20, Issue 56 - Serial Number 56
Articles
Issue 56, Autumn 2026
October 2026
Pages 599-616

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