Farabi's Concept of the Society and the Leader

Abstract

Abu Nasr al-Farabi is an Islamic philosopher who lived between 870 and 950. He was one of the first philosophers who tried to reconcile Islam with classical Greek philosophy, especially Greek political philosophy. The ideas he put forward in his works on politics and state philosophy still preserve their importance. Especially, his views on socialization, religion and the leader still maintain their influence. It is necessary to admit that in his views on the state, he was influenced by Greek thought. Farabi did not dedicate much space to social morality in his political system. The thinker who explains the good or bad of society in terms of the chieftain and also describes the model of leader in his ideal state. In his works, he especially emphasized on what criteria the chieftain and those who will come after him should have. Al-Farabi's perception of society, how he constructs his ideal state and its characteristics, form of government and social structure, value systems carve out the focal point of his political philosophy. Justify all these via the chieftain is the main purpose of this study.