Abstract

The article analises from the perspective of the concept of ‘processuality’ proposed by Andrew Smirnov, as well as in comparison with Kant’s categorical imperative, the concept of ‘reflection’ and its role in the ethical teaching of the outstanding Iraqi Sufi al-Haris al-Muhasibi (VIII-IX centuries). Reflection is an integral component of the mystic’s continuous observation of his thoughts and intentions. The latter is the main tool for cleansing the soul and heart on a person’s path to God. The ‘additional’ tools used in the study are Smirnov’s logical-semantic theory and Kant’s ethical teaching goal is to show the fundamental difference between the ideological paradigm of al–Muhasibi as a representative of Afro-Asian civilization from the paradigm of Kant as a representative of Western European civilization. The contrast of two ethics – ‘procedural’ (al-Muhasibi) and ‘substantial’ (Kant) – leads us to the theory of four types of civilization-specific mentality developed by Andrew Paribok. This article can and should be considered as a demonstration of how the method of Pskhu’ ‘situational hermeneutics’ works, according to which the researcher has the right to use those intellectual theories (sometimes irrelevant to each other) that help him in a concise form to clearly and unambiguously convey to the reader the meaning of the phenomenon under study (concept / text).