THE IDEAL STATE - AL-FARABI
- kirmizicantaliavukat
- 6 minutes ago
- 8 min read
MY COMMENTS :
Written by Farabi, a prominent Islamic thinker of the 9th and 10th centuries, the work discusses the creation process, which forms the basis of humanity and all living beings, and the ideal state system for people to live within the subsequent world order.
Considering the period in which it was written, the work discusses both the creation of matter and the process by which humanity is unable to comprehend God. The author then discusses the structures of matter and other living beings, stating that humans are the most complex species among all created beings.
One of the most astonishing aspects of the work is that, despite being written 1000 years ago, it contained information about the biological structure that is relevant today. It is clear that the author possessed detailed knowledge, from the arteries of the human body to the nerves in the brain, at that time.
However, unlike Western scientists, Farabi did not disregard the soul and its structure, and, like other Islamic scholars, he considered the human being as a whole, comprising both soul and body. The author, who also explains the most important organs for human life individually and with reasoned explanations, possessed not only a profound philosophical knowledge but also a strong command of what are now called positive sciences.
After presenting humanity, nature, and creation, the author discusses the necessary conditions for a state suitable for the continuation of humankind. In this section, he states that just as the heart and brain are the two vital organs that govern the body, countries should also be governed by qualified leaders. While he does not express a clear opinion on the form of government, he suggests that if qualified individuals possessing the virtues mentioned in the work are in charge of governing the country, its citizens can also benefit from the privileges of living in a virtuous city.
The author does not interpret the concept of the virtuous city solely through the lens of material wealth and prosperity, as Western philosophers have done, but rather offers a much broader perspective. He even argues that material well-being is not among the priorities of virtuous city dwellers. He claims that communities fulfilling the requirements of being virtuous will also enjoy a prosperous society.
As can be seen, the work was far ahead of its time, and its assessments, which are still valid today, were expressed by an important Islamic thinker more than 1000 years ago.
Unfortunately, it is clear that today, there are almost no countries left that embody the qualities described by the author. It is evident that for the people of this so-called modern age, material gain takes precedence over spirituality and human values. In a world experiencing not only societal but also global cultural decay, the replacement of human values such as morality, spirituality, and solidarity with fleeting desires like material power and worldly pleasures raises questions that require careful consideration regarding the ultimate destination of humanity.
In conclusion, thanks to its deductive narrative, the work absolutely deserves to be regarded as a timeless bedside book that addresses the definition of creation and infinity, as well as the vital values that humanity should consider after the process of existence.
MY QUOTATIONS(*) :
The most perfect knowledge is that which is permanent and indelible, and which can never be erased, is known through equally permanent knowledge.
We must understand that the First One, in His own right, is not difficult to comprehend, for He is the ultimate degree of perfection. However, because He is mixed with matter and nothingness, and as a result of the weakness of our minds, it is difficult for us to grasp Him and conceive Him. We are too weak to think of Him as He truly is, because His extreme perfection overwhelms us and prevents us from fully conceiving Him.
The more perfect and powerful something is, the weaker our visual perception of it becomes.
The First One is that from which everything that exists originated.
His existence is for its own sake. Anything else emanating from Him is a consequence of His essence and being, and necessarily follows from them.
Matter is the object upon which form exists, and form cannot continue to exist without matter. The existence of matter is for the sake of form.
Knowledge of something can be acquired through reason, imagination, or sensory perception. When the knowledge of something that can be perceived through reason is desired, the act that enables the attainment of that desired thing originates from another faculty within reason.
When the knowledge of something that can be grasped through sensory perception is desired, the act that enables its attainment arises from the combination of an act of the body and an act of the mind.
When the imagination of something is desired, this is accomplished in different ways: one of them is the direct, actual result of the power of imagination, as in the imagination of what is hoped for and expected, or the imagination of something that occurred in the past, or the wishing for what the power of imagination unites.
The heart is the governing organ that does not take orders from any other organ. After that comes the brain. The brain is also a governing organ, but its role is secondary, not primary.
The heart is the source of natural warmth. This natural warmth radiates from it to all other organs, constantly supporting and nourishing them. This happens when the soul, carrying natural vitality, is sent from the heart to the organs via the arteries.
Another function of the brain is this: the power of imagination can only function when the heart is at a certain temperature. Similarly, the power of reason can only think when the heart has a certain temperature.
After the brain, the liver ranks next in order, followed by the spleen, and then the reproductive organs.
The relationship between semen and the prepared blood in the uterus is like the relationship between yeast and milk. Just as fermented milk comes from yeast, so too does the fetus originate from semen.
In humans, semen is produced by the vessels in which it is contained. These are the blood vessels located beneath the contractile skin. The testes also contribute to this process to a certain extent. These vessels open into a duct in the penis, and from these vessels, semen flows into the penile duct, passes through it, and is deposited into the uterus, where it gives rise to a powerful force.
The organs shared by both sexes are warmer in men, and the organs responsible for movement and propulsion are stronger in men. Regarding psychic traits (passions), those directed towards strength, such as anger, harshness, and cruelty, are weaker in women and stronger in men. Those directed towards weakness, such as compassion and tenderness, are stronger in women. However, it is not impossible that some men have feelings similar to those of women, or some women have feelings similar to those of men. As for sensory abilities, imaginative abilities, and intellectual abilities, there is no difference between men and women in these respects.
Happiness is the state of perfection that the human soul reaches, where it does not need any material substance to draw strength from.
Perfect societies are of three types: large, medium, and small. A large society is the gathering of all nations throughout the whole habitable world. A medium society is the gathering of a single nation in a part of the habitable world. A small society is the gathering of the inhabitants of a single city on the territory inhabited by any nation. The gathering of the people of a village, a neighborhood, the inhabitants of a street, and finally the people of a household—the latter being the smallest unity—forms an imperfect, deficient society.
The highest good and the greatest perfection can only be attained first in a city, not in a community that is less developed than a city.
The ruler of a virtuous city cannot be just any random person. For rulership requires two things: that person must be inherently and naturally suited to rulership; and that person must have acquired the volitional skills and attitudes relevant to rulership. Just as most people are naturally suited to service, so too are most arts suited to serving the city.
It is difficult for all twelve qualities required to be the ruler of a virtuous city to be found in a single person. Therefore, such naturally gifted individuals are encountered only once in any era.
The ruler who succeeds the first ruler and acts as his deputy must possess a combination of these twelve qualities from birth and childhood, and after growing up, he must excel in the following six characteristics: He must be a philosopher. He must know and preserve the laws, rules, and procedures that the first rulers established for the city and applied in their administration, and he must follow in the footsteps of these rulers in all his actions. He must be superior in creating and establishing new laws by following their methods in matters not recorded in the laws of the past.
The only good things they know are those that are thought to be good, such as physical health, wealth, sensual pleasures, freedom to pursue one's desires, respect, and prestige—things considered to be the ends of the earth. According to the ignorant city dwellers, each of these is a kind of happiness, and the greatest, most complete happiness is the sum of them all.
The people of ignorant cities remain spiritually deficient and necessarily dependent on material things to survive.
Justice is in accordance with nature. Therefore, justice is dominion obtained by force. Justice is the crushing of anyone who stands in the way of humanity, whoever they may be. Therefore, a person who acts in accordance with what is called justice, who applies its rules, is either a weak person who fears that others will inflict upon them what they wish to inflict upon others, or a deceived, misled person who does not know how things truly happen.
MY ASSESSMENTS:
Subject : The work discusses the creation process, which forms the basis of humanity and all living beings, and the ideal state system for people to live within the subsequent world order.
Style: The author's frequent use of technical concepts from the very first page, and the explanation of these concepts before conveying the intended message, should be considered an important criterion for the reader. This allows the intended message to be communicated more concisely through definitions. However, it should be noted that the frequent use of technical terms necessitates careful attention to certain terms by the reader.
Originality : Considering the period in which it was written, the fact that the work managed to contain information far ahead of its time and offers universally relevant knowledge that remains valid even today demonstrates that it is an original book.
Character : Due to its nature, the work will not be evaluated in this category.
Fluency : Considering the points mentioned in the style section, it should be noted that expecting the work to be engaging, given its genre, would be unreasonable. However, it can be argued that the technical terms used in the style section make it difficult to convey the intended messages more clearly, even hindering fluency. Nevertheless, despite its didactic structure and the scientific terminology it employs, it is a book that successfully conveys its intended messages clearly.
Overall : Based on the criteria mentioned above, and evaluated out of 10:
Subject: 9
Style: 7.5
Originality: 8.5
Fluency: 7
The overall average score for the book, which received its rating, is 8 points . Considering the genre and the period in which it was written, it should be noted that this timeless book, which still manages to reach the 8 mark, is definitely one of the essential bedside books that should be in every home.
(*) : All parts under the heading "My Quotes":
THE IDEAL STATE
Author : Farabi
Publisher : Türkiye İş Bankası Cultural Publications
Edition : 19th Edition – October 2024
The quote used on the cover is taken from the book in the photograph.
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