Editing Zoroaster (section)

==Philosophy==
[[Image:Sanzio 01 Zoroaster Ptolmey.jpg|thumb|Detail of [[The School of Athens]] by [[Raphael]], 1509, showing what may be Zoroaster (left, with star-studded globe)]]

In the {{transliteration|ae|Gathas}}, Zoroaster sees the human condition as the mental struggle between {{transliteration|ae|[[aša]]}} and {{transliteration|ae|[[Nasu (Zoroastrianism)|druj]]}}. The cardinal concept of {{transliteration|ae|aša}}—which is highly nuanced and difficult to translate—is at the foundation of all Zoroastrian doctrine, including that of {{transliteration|ae|[[Ahura Mazda]]}} (who is {{transliteration|ae|aša}}), creation (that is {{transliteration|ae|aša}}), existence (that is {{transliteration|ae|aša}}), and as the condition for free will.

The purpose of humankind, like that of all other creation, is to sustain and align itself to {{transliteration|ae|aša}}. For humankind, this occurs through active ethical participation in life, ritual, and the exercise of constructive/good thoughts, words, and deeds.

Elements of Zoroastrian philosophy entered the West through their influence on [[Judaism]] and [[Platonism]] and have been identified as one of the key early events in the development of philosophy.{{sfn|Blackburn|1994|p=405}} Among the classic Greek philosophers, [[Heraclitus]] is often referred to as inspired by Zoroaster's thinking.<ref name="August Gladisch">{{Citation|title=Herakleitos Und Zoroaster: Eine Historische Untersuchung|first=August |last=Gladisch |year=1859|page=IV|hdl=2027/hvd.32044085119394|hdl-access=free}}</ref>

In 2005, the Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy ranked Zoroaster as first in the chronology of philosophers.{{sfn|Blackburn|2005|p=409}}<ref>Frankfort, H., Frankfort, H. A. G., Wilson, J. A., & Jacobsen, T. (1964). Before Philosophy. Penguin, Harmondsworth.</ref> Zoroaster's impact lingers today due in part to the system of religious ethics he founded called {{transliteration|ae|Mazdayasna}}. The word {{transliteration|ae|Mazdayasna}} is [[Avestan]] and is translated as 'Worship of Wisdom/Mazda' in English. The encyclopedia [[Natural History (Pliny)]] claims that Zoroastrians later educated the Greeks who, starting with [[Pythagoras]], used a similar term, philosophy, or "love of wisdom" to describe the search for ultimate truth.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pliny Natural History Vol 8; Book XXX |last=Jones |first=W.H.S. |date=1963 |publisher=Heinemann |url=http://www.masseiana.org/pliny.htm#BOOK%20XXX |access-date=December 28, 2016 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170101063545/http://www.masseiana.org/pliny.htm#BOOK%20XXX |archive-date=January 1, 2017}}</ref>

Zoroaster emphasized the freedom of the individual to choose right or wrong and individual responsibility for one's deeds. This personal choice to accept {{transliteration|ae|aša}} and shun {{transliteration|ae|druj}} is one's own decision and not a dictate of {{transliteration|ae|Ahura Mazda}}. For Zoroaster, by thinking good thoughts, saying good words, and doing good deeds (e.g. assisting the needy, doing good works, or conducting good rituals) one increases {{transliteration|ae|aša}} in the world and in themselves, celebrating the divine order, and coming a step closer on the everlasting road to {{transliteration|ae|[[Frashokereti]]}}. Thus, mankind are not the slaves or servants of {{transliteration|ae|Ahura Mazda}}, but can make a personal choice to be co-workers, thereby perfecting the world as saoshyants ("world-perfecters") and eventually achieving the status of an {{transliteration|ae|Ashavan}} ("master of {{transliteration|ae|Asha}}").{{Citation needed|date=September 2016}}