The Ethics of Al-Fârâbî: The Highest Good and The Means of Realizing It

Suat Çelikkol

Article Details

The Ethics of Al-Fârâbî: The Highest Good and The Means of Realizing It

Authors:

Suat Çelikkol

Publisher:

Cukurova University

Journal:

Çukurova Üniversitesi İlahiyat Fakültesi Dergisi (ÇÜİFD) Vol.23 Issue 1, pp.65-80

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2023

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001295011

pISSN:

2564-6427

Keywords:

Abstract:

 The question of what are the highest good points to an ancient debate that goes back to Socrates and his successors, Plato and Aristotle. Fârâbî also has examined this basic problem in most of his works, especially those related to politics. He pointed out that the highest good for man is to reach real happiness in this world and the afterlife. True happiness can be attained only with true philosophy, knowing God- who is the source of goodness, beauty-, and virtue. With these views, Fârâbî shows that real happiness can be gained by real philosophers, prophets, true rulers, and wise people who have wisdom and establish the knowledge-action relationship. On the other hand, in Fârâbî, happiness is possible by knowing God and doing holy actions, and the mystery of immortality for man is also hidden in metaphysical knowledge. Therefore, the fate of spirits attached to matter is like the fate of matter. They will not be immortal and happy. It should be stated that Fârâbî is an important philosopher for medieval Islamic philosophy. As a result, the essence of his moral theory is based on a persons full self-realisation in the mental and moral field, perfecting all his powers and abilities. Fârâbîs views on morality can be evaluated and criticised from different perspectives. On the other hand, Fârâbîs philosophy draws attention to reason and will, showing that truth and virtue are the basic conditions of a good life, and grounds all these with a solid philosophy. Correspondingly, his philosophy deserves more afford and work.

 The question of what are the highest good points to an ancient debate that goes back to Socrates and his successors, Plato and Aristotle. Fârâbî also has examined this basic problem in most of his works, especially those related to politics. He pointed out that the highest good for man is to reach real happiness in this world and the afterlife. True happiness can be attained only with true philosophy, knowing God- who is the source of goodness, beauty-, and virtue. With these views, Fârâbî shows that real happiness can be gained by real philosophers, prophets, true rulers, and wise people who have wisdom and establish the knowledge-action relationship. On the other hand, in Fârâbî, happiness is possible by knowing God and doing holy actions, and the mystery of immortality for man is also hidden in metaphysical knowledge. Therefore, the fate of spirits attached to matter is like the fate of matter. They will not be immortal and happy. It should be stated that Fârâbî is an important philosopher for medieval Islamic philosophy. As a result, the essence of his moral theory is based on a persons full self-realisation in the mental and moral field, perfecting all his powers and abilities. Fârâbîs views on morality can be evaluated and criticised from different perspectives. On the other hand, Fârâbîs philosophy draws attention to reason and will, showing that truth and virtue are the basic conditions of a good life, and grounds all these with a solid philosophy. Correspondingly, his philosophy deserves more afford and work.

 The question of what are the highest good points to an ancient debate that goes back to Socrates and his successors, Plato and Aristotle. Fârâbî also has examined this basic problem in most of his works, especially those related to politics. He pointed out that the highest good for man is to reach real happiness in this world and the afterlife. True happiness can be attained only with true philosophy, knowing God- who is the source of goodness, beauty-, and virtue. With these views, Fârâbî shows that real happiness can be gained by real philosophers, prophets, true rulers, and wise people who have wisdom and establish the knowledge-action relationship. On the other hand, in Fârâbî, happiness is possible by knowing God and doing holy actions, and the mystery of immortality for man is also hidden in metaphysical knowledge. Therefore, the fate of spirits attached to matter is like the fate of matter. They will not be immortal and happy. It should be stated that Fârâbî is an important philosopher for medieval Islamic philosophy. As a result, the essence of his moral theory is based on a persons full self-realisation in the mental and moral field, perfecting all his powers and abilities. Fârâbîs views on morality can be evaluated and criticised from different perspectives. On the other hand, Fârâbîs philosophy draws attention to reason and will, showing that truth and virtue are the basic conditions of a good life, and grounds all these with a solid philosophy. Correspondingly, his philosophy deserves more afford and work.

 En yüksek iyinin ne olduğu sorusu, Sokrates ve halefleri Platon ve Aristotelese kadar uzanan kadim bir tartışmaya işaret eder. Fârâbî de başta siyasete ilişkin olanlar gelmek üzere çoğu eserinde bu temel sorunu irdelemiştir. İnsan için en yüce iyinin hem bu dünyada hem de öteki dünyada gerçek mutluluğa ulaşmak olduğuna işaret etmiştir. Gerçek mutluluğa ancak hakiki felsefeyle, iyiliğin ve güzelliğin kaynağı olan Tanrıyı bilmekle ve erdeme uygun bir yaşamla ulaşılabileceğini belirtmiştir. Fârâbî bu görüşleriyle gerçek mutluluğun hikmet sahibi, bilgi-eylem ilişkisini kuran gerçek filozof, peygamber, hakiki yönetici ve bilge kişilerce kazanılabileceğini göstermektedir. Öte yandan Fârâbîde mutluluk Tanrıyı bilmekle ve erdemli eylemleri yapmakla mümkün olduğu gibi insan için ölümsüzlük de yine metafizik bilgide saklıdır. Dolayısıyla maddeye bağlı ruhların kaderi maddenin kaderi gibidir. Onlar ölümsüz ve mutlu olmayacaklardır. Sonuç olarak Fârâbînin ahlâk kuramının özü akli ve ahlâki alanda kişinin tam olarak kendini gerçekleştirmesi, bütün güç ve yeteneklerini mükemmelleştirmesi esasına dayanır. Fârâbînin ahlâkta ortaya koyduğu görüşler farklı açılardan değerlendirilip eleştirilebilir. Buna karşın Fârâbînin ahlâk felsefesi mutlu olmak için akla ve iradeye dikkat çekmekte ve bunları temellendirmeye çalışmaktadır.

Article Details

The Ethics of Al-Fârâbî: The Highest Good and The Means of Realizing It

Authors:

Suat Çelikkol

Publisher:

Cukurova University

Journal:

Çukurova Üniversitesi İlahiyat Fakültesi Dergisi (ÇÜİFD) Vol.23 Issue 1, pp.65-80

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2023

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001295011

pISSN:

2564-6427

Islamic Philosophy

Fârâbî

Moral Philosophy

Happiness

Goodness.İslam Felsefesi

Fârâbî

Ahlâk Felsefesi

Mutluluk

iyilik

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Suat Çelikkol

Publisher: Cukurova University

Journal: Çukurova Üniversitesi İlahiyat Fakültesi Dergisi (ÇÜİFD) Vol.23 Issue 1, pp.65-80

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 6/2023

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001295011

pISSN: 2564-6427

Issues

Authors:

Suat Çelikkol

Publisher:

Cukurova University

Journal:

Çukurova Üniversitesi İlahiyat Fakültesi Dergisi (ÇÜİFD) Vol.23 Issue 1, pp.65-80

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2023

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001295011

pISSN:

2564-6427