COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF ABU NASR AL-FARABI AND AL-GHAZALI’S PHILOSOPHICAL VIEWS (Based on Farabi’s Political Philosophy and Ghazali’s The Alchemy of Happiness)

Аннотация

В данной статье анализируются философские взгляды Абу Насра аль-Фараби и Абу Хамида аль-Газали. В исследовании рассматриваются их идеи о человеке, обществе и морали на основе трудов Фараби «Философия политики» и Газали «Химия счастья». Фараби разработал философское мышление и концепцию государственного управления, в то время как Газали уделял внимание духовному совершенству человека. Ключевые слова: Фараби, Газали, философия, этика, политика, государственное управление, духовное совершенство, сравнительный анализ. Philosophy is one of the highest levels of human thought, and its main goal is to develop deep knowledge about existence, humanity, society, and ethics. Among the 275 SCIENCE SHINE INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL Issue 8(43), Volume 1 | ISSN 3030-377X | 30.04.2025 medieval Eastern thinkers, Abu Nasr al-Farabi and Abu Hamid al-Ghazali hold a special place. Their philosophical views focus on important topics such as society, human spiritual perfection, ethics, and politics, while employing different approaches.Farabi studied Greek philosophy, harmonizing it with Islamic thought, and provided explanations on state governance, political philosophy, and the nature of human intellect. Ghazali, on the other hand, emphasized Islamic mysticism and moral perfection, presenting ways to achieve human perfection through spiritual purification and understanding divine truth. This article conducts a comparative analysis of the philosophical views of Farabi and Ghazali based on Farabi’s Political Philosophy and Ghazali’s The Alchemy of Happiness. Throughout the research, their ideas on humanity, society, and ethics are examined, highlighting their similarities and differences. This scholarly analysis reveals that Farabi focused on philosophical thought and state governance, whereas Ghazali emphasized spiritual perfection and moral purification as the primary factors. Therefore, this article holds significant academic importance in studying the philosophical heritage of Farabi and Ghazali and understanding how their ideas can influence modern societal development. Abu Nasr al-Farabi and Abu Hamid al- Ghazali played a crucial role in the development of medieval Eastern philosophy. Their views, deeply studied from both scientific and ethical perspectives, are based on different philosophical traditions. Abu Nasr al-Farabi is recognized as a great thinker who merged Eastern and Western philosophy. He studied the teachings of Plato and Aristotle in depth, integrating them with Islamic thought. In his work Political Philosophy, Farabi extensively discusses state governance, the structure of society, and the role of individuals in social life. He believed that an ideal society should be governed by a wise ruler. In such a society, reason and knowledge serve as the leading forces, ensuring justice and progress. Farabi’s views on science and thought were not merely continuations of Greek philosophy; rather, he developed a distinct philosophical approach rooted in Eastern intellectual traditions. He saw the path to human happiness in knowledge and enlightenment. According to Farabi, an individual can benefit society only by fully developing their intellectual potential. Thus, he placed great emphasis on the advancement of human intellect and scientific progress. Regarding state governance, Farabi had clear views, positioning a just and enlightened leader at the highest social rank. He argued that a ruler should be wise, knowledgeable, and just. According to him, the development of society depends on 276 SCIENCE SHINE INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL Issue 8(43), Volume 1 | ISSN 3030-377X | 30.04.2025 the intellectual level and moral purity of its leader. Farabi emphasized that society functions as an integrated system, where every individual must find their rightful place. Abu Hamid al-Ghazali was one of the leading figures of Eastern philosophy, and his teachings were based on Islamic Sufi philosophy. In his work The Alchemy of Happiness, he explores the spiritual and moral perfection of human beings. His central idea is based on the purity of the heart and moral education. According to him, a person can achieve perfection only through moral purification and the realization of divine truth. Ghazali integrated theology and philosophy, dividing humans into two essential components – the body and the soul. In his view, physical needs are temporary, while spiritual purification ensures eternal happiness. Therefore, he considered guiding individuals toward perfection through the Sufi path as his primary mission. Ghazali emphasized the supremacy of moral values in social life, asserting the importance of overcoming obstacles on the path to truth. He believed that if a person is not morally pure, their scientific achievements cannot be considered true knowledge. For this reason, Ghazali supported the idea of subordinating science to religion, viewing religious teachings as the fundamental direction of human life. Both thinkers