Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
department of philosophy, facualty of literature and hiumanities, university of isfahan, iran
2
Assistant professor, philosophy department. Humanities faculty. Isfahan University. Isfahan. Iran
10.22108/mph.2026.148660.1714
Abstract
In Abū Naṣr Farabi’s political thought, cooperation is regarded as the foundation of collective life and the central mechanism for realizing the ideal city (al-Madīna al-Fāḍila). Farabi argues that humans can achieve true happiness only through rational, purposeful collaboration based on a shared understanding of the common good. While individual life is necessary, it is insufficient, and human virtue and perfection are realized only within society, through division of labor according to natural talents and guided by reason. In modern political philosophy, Jürgen Habermas introduces the concept of communicative action, presenting dialogical rationality as a framework for achieving collective understanding and agreement on norms; in this process, actors in an equal space reach social legitimacy through mutual reasoning and respect for differing perspectives. This article, using an analytical-comparative approach, revisits Farabi’s notion of cooperation in the light of Habermas’ theory of communicative action, showing that cooperation is not merely practical assistance but a rational, dialogical, and normative process that materializes in social norms through Ṣinā‘at al-Shāri‘a. The findings suggest that this comparative understanding, while strengthening interdisciplinary studies between Islamic and Western political philosophy, can inspire a rethinking of dialogical rationality in contemporary societies, particularly in addressing crises of legitimacy, inequality, and the lack of genuine participation.
Keywords: cooperation, al-Farabi, Habermas, communicative action, Ṣināʿat al-Shāriʿa, legislation, communicative rationality
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