Principles and components of democracy in the thoughts of Mohammad Mojtahed Shabestari; Emphasizing on the methodology of Quentin Skinner

Abstract

Today, democracy has been proposed as the most desirable biopolitical way and all political systems use the label of democracy to gain legitimacy and continuity of life and claim the legitimacy by creating some democratic political institutions. Nevertheless, every thinker has paid special attention to it. This article tries to study democracy and its principles in the religious views and ideas of Mohammad Mojtahed Shabestari, in the framework of Skinner's hermeneutic methodology. By studying the views and ideas of Mujtahid Shabestari as a religious thinker and influential in the Iranian intellectual currents after the Islamic Revolution, a democratic interpretation on religion can be given to his thought and he with a hermeneutic view, a modern interpretation on traditional concepts such as justice, council, etc. presented that is compatible with contemporary human understanding or modern understanding on religion. Also, Mujtahid Shabestari has tried to reconcile religion and modernity, and to offer a modern interpretation that is in line with the spirit of the time. He on basis on this approach to modern concepts such as democracy especially to principles of freedom and equality, believes in the possibility and existence of "Muslim democracy". In his view, these two principles should manifest themselves in the heart of society with different traditions as the core of the political system.