he Idea of the Solitary in Philosophy (A Study of Selected Models) (Al-Farabi, Ibn Baja)

Abstract

One of the ideas discussed in political philosophy by Muslim philosophers, especially Al-Farabi and Ibn Bajjah, is the idea of the "solitary one," due to the similarities in the circumstances and era that both philosophers lived in.

There is a clear influence of Al-Farabi's philosophy on the ideas and opinions of Ibn Bajjah, particularly in his political philosophy, the management of cities, their classification, types, and names. The difference lies in each one's perspective on the solitary or the outcasts, whom Al-Farabi considered as destructive and detrimental to virtuous cities, while Ibn Bajjah regarded them as wise outsiders living in imperfect cities and striving to reform them, despite suffering in those cities due to the ignorant and those with corrupt opinions. Additionally, we find that the solitary, according to Ibn Bajjah, is the philosopher who has the potential to connect with the active intellect.