Farabi’s Political Philosophy: Reconciling Platonic Ideals with ‎Realist Perspectives on Justice and Interstate Relations

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Department of Islamic Philosophy and Theology, Faculty of Theology, ‎Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz, Iran‏.‏

Abstract

This study examines Farabi's perspective on international relations, focusing on the concept of the Virtuous City (al-Madīna al-Fāḍila) and the Non-Virtuous Cities. The research method is based on textual and comparative analysis of Farabi's works, particularly The Principles of the Views of the People of the Virtuous City (Ārā' Ahl al-Madīna al-Fāḍila), Civil Policy (al-Siyāsa al-Madanīya), and Selected Aphorisms (Fuṣūl Muntaza‘a). This analysis emphasizes a comparison with the views of Plato in the Republic and Laws, and Thucydides' Melian Dialogue in the History of the Peloponnesian War. Influenced by Plato, Farabi defines the Virtuous City as a just society guided toward happiness (sa'āda) by a chief-philosopher. He categorizes the Non-Virtuous Cities into three types: Ignorant (Jāhila), Immoral (Fāsiqa), or Erring/Straying (Ḍālla), with the Vicious City (al-Madīna al-Taghallubīya) serving as their core, dominated by the motive of superiority/dominance (taghallub). The study indicates that the beliefs of the inhabitants of the Ignorant Cities, particularly regarding justice and dominance, reflect Thucydides' views (as articulated by the Athenians in the Melian Dialogue, that "the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must"). Farabi considers just war to involve defense, securing legitimate rights, or guiding others toward the good (khayr), while unjust war arises solely from dominance and a lust for superiority (taghallub). This study argues that, for Farabi, the survival of the Virtuous City amidst dominant cities necessitates a strong defense, and the expansion of the Virtuous City into a Virtuous Nation (al-Umma al-Fāḍila) and a Virtuous World (al-Ma‘mūra al-Fāḍila) is a prerequisite for eliminating war and achieving true happiness.

Keywords

References

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Theosophia Islamica
Volume 5, Issue 2 - Serial Number 10
November 2025
Pages 42-77

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