Farabi's Views on Virtue

The explanation of virtue and its significance from Farabi’s point of view can pave the way to a better understanding of the key issues of his philosophy like civil society, utopia, practical wisdom, scholar community and habitus. Farabi’s views on virtue are influenced by his felicity-oriented perspective toward ethics and perfectionism of mankind. He believes that human beings are perfectionist and felicitous in nature and to achieve this sublime and sacred goal specific means are required. Acquiring various virtues (theoretical, intellectual, ethical and practical) is the means through which human beings can accomplish the perfection of virtues and their practice which is only achievable through education provided for the members of the society. Therefore, Farabi sets the aim of education as the acquisition of theoretical and moral virtues. As the present paper aims at an understanding of Farabi’s works very few references are made to the works of other scholars.