Al-Farabi believed that a well-governed society should prioritize the well-being of its people above all else. He saw justice as the fundamental principle that allows individuals to thrive and achieve collective contentment, which is the ultimate goal of any state.
Quote by Al-Farabi: “The virtuous city aims at the happiness of its citizens, flourishing through justice.”
The virtuous city aims at the happiness of its citizens, flourishing through justice.
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Historical Context
Al-Farabi wrote "The Virtuous City" during a period of intellectual flourishing in the Islamic Golden Age. He sought to define an ideal society based on philosophical principles, drawing from Greek thought while integrating Islamic concepts of community welfare.
About the Author
Turkic philosopher, mathematician, and music theorist born around 872 CE in Farab, in present-day Kazakhstan, known as the Second Teacher after Aristotle in the Islamic philosophical tradition. His Grand Book of Music laid the theoretical foundations for understanding music in the medieval Islamic world.
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