Al-Farabi, Madani, and Aristotle's Republic

Al-Farabi lived in the Abbasids, yet unhesitatingly took the individual city to be the fundamental setting for political affairs. Nearly every page of his writings on political subjects betray the influence of Aristotle and, above all, Plato. He adopts its teaching that a city can become good only if it is ruled by philosophers. Al-Farabi also follows Aristotle in thinking that good political rule can help citizens to be happy by bringing them to virtue.