Philosophy of Religion Research

Beauty and the Meaning of Life in Farabi’s Philosophy: A Reinterpretation for Contemporary Humanity

Document Type : Original Research

Authors

1 Ph.D. Graduate in Islamic Philosophy and Kalam, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

2 PhD Candidate of Philosophy of Religion, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey

Abstract

The question of life’s meaning has always been a fundamental challenge in philosophy. Two major perspectives dominate this discourse: one views life’s meaning as something to be discovered within the metaphysical order of existence, while the other considers it a construct shaped by personal experiences and self-created values. This paper examines Farabi’s philosophical system to address this debate through the lens of the relationship between beauty and the meaning of life. Farabi presents beauty not merely as an aesthetic concept but as a pathway to attaining happiness and uncovering truth. In his view, real beauty manifests across different ontological levels, from the sensory to the intellectual, guiding human beings toward harmony with metaphysical reality. This study demonstrates that, in Farabi’s framework, beauty plays a dual role: on one hand, it serves as a means to discover the objective meaning of life through alignment with the Active Intellect; on the other, it allows individuals to reproduce and manifest meaning within their particular experiences. Thus, Farabi’s philosophy not only affirms the discovery of meaning but also grants a role to personal experience in realizing this meaning. The findings of this study suggest that by providing a intellectual and ontological structure for beauty, Farabi offers a resolution to the debate between the discovery and creation of life’s meaning.

Keywords

Main Subjects

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Philosophy of Religion Research
Volume 23, Issue 1 - Serial Number 45
April 2025
Pages 181-199