Platonic or Aristotelian Aspects of Life: A Harmonious World in Farabi’s Utopian Thinking

Plato and Aristotle introduced the worlds of knowledge which established a proper background for various philosophical schools for about ۲۵۰۰ years albeit a Platonic and an Aristotelian dimension have always been discernible in each human being usually revealed in literature, philosophy and art. Both Plato and Aristotle have exercised a great influence on Islamic culture and civilization in which both „concrete particulars” and „abstract entities” are equally important in their places. This equality, or harmony, between the earthly and heavenly dimensions of the human being, is inspired by teachings of Islam, particularly, a verse from Quran that admires the „middle nation” (II: ۱۴۳). Farabi (۸۷۳? - ۹۵۰), the author of The Virtuous City (۹۵۱) and the founder of Islamic philosophy was strongly influenced by Plato and Aristotle’s philosophical views. Despite the difference between these two philosophers, Farabi, in his The Harmonization of the Two Opinions of the Two Sages: Plato the Divine and Aristotle try to demonstrate that although their views might seem different, they have the same nature. In other words, Farabi believes that Plato and Aristotle’s ideas are two sides of the same coin, and the harmony between them creates the appropriate social conditions for human beings. In his Virtuous City, he has described in detail the features of this utopian „city”. How to unite the Platonic and Aristotelian dimensions in human beings and to preserve the harmony between them at the same time, and blend them with an understanding of Islam is still a question and, certainly, a challenge for contemporary Iranian culture. The present study attempts to show how Farabi tries to create such a harmony between Plato and Aristotle’s ideas grounded on Islamic culture.

کلیدواژه ها:

Farabi ، HARMONIE ، Interkultureller Utopismus ، Islamische Kultur ، Utopie