Jewish Ethics: Deontological or Teleological?

Hosseini Ghal’eh Bahman, Seyed Akbar; Moradalizadeh, Fatemeh

doi:10.22034/qb.2025.2057393.1040

Jewish Ethics: Deontological or Teleological?

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Seyed Akbar Hosseini Ghal’eh Bahman ¹

Fatemeh Moradalizadeh ²

¹ Associate Professor of the Department of Religions, The Imam Khomeini Education and Research Institute, Qom, IRAN

² Ph.D. Student of Quran and Hadith Studies, Kashan Azad University, Kashan, IRAN.

10.22034/qb.2025.2057393.1040

Abstract

Every ethical system possesses at least six core elements: a theory of moral value, fundamental moral principles, rules of inference, incentives for adhering to ethical principles and rules, enforcement mechanisms for those principles and rules, and a justification for the necessity of being moral and for the validity of the said ethical system. This system is constructed and refined based on sources of moral knowledge and ethical foundations and is presented to its target society. Within this system, the theory of moral value is recognized as the principal element, upon which all other elements rely in some manner. Within Jewish ethical systems, two distinct theories are observed concerning the theory of moral value: "A deontological perspective and a teleological perspective. Some scholars currently argue that Jewish ethics is deontological and present reasoning for this position." This paper, with reference to the Tanakh (the Old Testament) and the foundations of ethics in Judaism, emphasizes the teleological viewpoint and critiques the arguments put forth by deontologists. The difference between these two perspectives has been notably evident in the conduct of the Zionist regime and its supporters over the past two years. From a deontological viewpoint, it is sufficient for a religious scholar to justify, based on their own interpretation, the massacre of the people of Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, and Iran by citing a divine command; in this scenario, no rational, empirical or even emotional argument can prevent such crimes.

Keywords

Ethical System

Theory of Moral Value

Foundations of Ethics

Jewish Ethics

Moral Teleology

Moral Deontology

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