al-Fārābī, Abu Nasr Muḥammad Iḅn Tarkhān
al-Fārābī, Abu Nasr Muḥammad Iḅn Tarkhān (c.870–950 (AH 257–339)). A philosopher-mystic of Turkish origin who lived during the height of ʿAbbāsid rule in Baghdād. His philosophy contained elements of Aristotelanism, Platonism, and Sufism. Al-Fārābī wrote on many diverse subjects. Among Muslim philosophers he is considered the Second Teacher (al-muʿallim ath-thāni) after Aristotle. Al-Fārābī's chief work, Attainment of Happiness, defends the basis of revelation (i.e. prophecy) against the strong attacks of such free-thinkers as Al-Rawandī.
He reconciled the various modes of human reflection and enquiry by dividing the intellect (the extension of Being into the human) into three: the active intellect, the potential intellect and the acquired intellect. In this way he could affirm the equal validity of many human arts and skills. His Kitāb al-Musiqa (The Book of Music) laid the foundations for an Islamic theory of music, drawing attention to relations between mathematics and music; and his Risalah fi araʾ ahl al Madina al-fadilah (Treatise on the … Virtuous City) was widely influential in the development of political science.
He reconciled the various modes of human reflection and enquiry by dividing the intellect (the extension of Being into the human) into three: the active intellect, the potential intellect and the acquired intellect. In this way he could affirm the equal validity of many human arts and skills. His Kitāb al-Musiqa (The Book of Music) laid the foundations for an Islamic theory of music, drawing attention to relations between mathematics and music; and his Risalah fi araʾ ahl al Madina al-fadilah (Treatise on the … Virtuous City) was widely influential in the development of political science.
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al-Fārābī, Abu Nasr Muḥammad Iḅn Tarkhān
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