Self-knowledge and the practice of ethics: Ostad Elahi's concept of the "imperious self"

When approaching the perplexing issue of self‐knowledge, two questions should be kept in mind: What type of knowledge do we expect? and, more importantly, Why does this knowledge matter for us? Among the motivations behind such an endeavor, the ethical project of self‐transformation is of particular interest, for it sheds light on the inherently constructive nature of self‐knowledge. Psychologists dealing with the issue of self‐realization and identity formation, however, generally tend to overlook the resources offered by ethics considered as a genuine self‐transformative practice (in contrast to morality as a set of rules or principles to be applied in specific contexts). The tradition of “spiritual exercises” is considered from this self‐transformative perspective, as well as Plato's conception of self‐knowledge (“know thyself”). Finally, Ostad Elahi's concept of the “imperious self” is examined in detail: beyond the particular context to which it belongs (spiritual ethics), the “imperious self” appears as a valuable tool for understanding the active part played by self‐modeling in the process of self‐transformation.