نوع مقاله : مقاله پژوهشی

نویسندگان

• بهرام اخوان کاظمی ¹
• محمد صادق محمودی ²

¹ استاد گروه علوم سیاسی ، دانشکده حقوق و علوم سیاسی دانشگاه شیراز، شیراز، ایران

² دانشجوی دکتری تخصصی علوم سیاسی گرایش مسائل ایران، گروه علوم سیاسی، دانشگاه شیراز، شیراز، ایران

چکیده

این مقاله به تحلیل تطبیقی اندیشه‌های آرمان‌شهری و فلسفی ابونصر فارابی، فیلسوف برجسته تمدن اسلامی، و هربرت جورج ولز، نویسنده و متفکر مدرن غربی، می‌پردازد. فارابی در نظریه «مدینه فاضله» جامعه‌ای آرمانی را ترسیم می‌کند که بر پایه عدالت، حکمرانی اخلاق محور و هماهنگی میان معنویت و عقلانیت بنا شده است. او معتقد است که سعادت فردی و جمعی در گرو تحقق عدالت اجتماعی و حکمرانی عقلانی است. در مقابل، ولز آرمان‌شهری مدرن و سکولار را مطرح می‌کند که بر پیشرفت علم‌وفناوری، همکاری جهانی، و کاهش نابرابری‌های اجتماعی تأکید دارد. این پژوهش، با استفاده از منابع معتبر و مقایسه این دو رویکرد، به بررسی نقاط مشترک و تفاوت‌های آن‌ها در زمینه حکمرانی، توسعه اجتماعی، و تعاملات بین‌المللی پرداخته است. نتایج نشان می‌دهد که اصول اخلاقی فارابی و دیدگاه علمی ولز می‌توانند در هم ترکیب شده و الگویی نوین برای حل چالش‌های جهانی ارائه دهند. این مدل می‌تواند در مسائل کلیدی معاصر مانند عدالت اجتماعی، تغییرات اقلیمی، بحران‌های فناوری، و نابرابری اقتصادی مؤثر باشد. همچنین، این مقاله به اهمیت دیپلماسی علمی - فرهنگی و نقش محوری اخلاق در سیاست‌گذاری‌های مدرن می‌پردازد. این مطالعه پیشنهاد می‌کند که بازخوانی اندیشه‌های فارابی و ولز می‌تواند راه‌حلی جامع برای تحقق جامعه‌ای پایدار و عادلانه فراهم کند که در آن علم، اخلاق، و عدالت در کنار یکدیگر پیش روند.

کلیدواژه‌ها

• فارابی
• هربرت ولز
• مدینه فاضله
• آرمان‌شهر مدرن
• عدالت اجتماعی

موضوعات

• اندیشه سیاسی

عنوان مقاله [English]

State and Governance in al-Fārābī and H. G. Wells’s Political Thought: A Comparative Study of Utopian Conceptions

نویسندگان [English]

• Bahram Akhavan kazemi ¹
• Mohammad Sadegh Mahmoudi ²

¹ Professor of Political Science, Department of Political Science, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

² Ph.D Student in Political Science, Department of Political Science, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

چکیده [English]

1. Introduction
Throughout history, philosophical and political thought has concerned pursuing an ideal society or utopia. In addition to outlining governance, justice, and human flourishing frameworks, utopian visions serve as intellectual constructs that guide socio-political development. A prominent figure in utopian thought is Abu Nasr Al-Farabi (872-950 CE), a foundational philosopher in the Islamic tradition, and Herbert George Wells (1866- 1946), a prominent British thinker and writer. Notably, both thinkers offered utopian models that provide profound insights into how an ideal society might be organised despite their differing historical and intellectual contexts. Al-Farabi’s Al-Madina Al-Fadila (The Virtuous City) proposes an ideal state controlled by a philosopher-king in which justice, ethical leadership, and intellectual cultivation are the hallmarks of social harmony. In his model, Aristotle and Platonic influences are integrated with Islamic metaphysics, promoting a hierarchical yet meritocratic order in which knowledge and virtue determine government. On the other hand, Wells presents a secular utopia based on scientific progress, technological advancement, and global cooperation through works such as A Modern Utopia (1905) and Men Like Gods (1923). The author envisions a society where rational planning, empirical knowledge, and international collaboration can mitigate social inequalities and enhance human welfare.
This study aims to systematically analyse these two utopian models, examining their philosophical underpinnings, governance structures, economic policies, and contemporary relevance. By identifying their points of convergence and divergence, we examine the feasibility of integrating their principles into a synthesised framework designed to address modern global challenges.
2.Research Objectives
The primary aim of this research is to conduct a systematic comparative analysis of the utopian visions of Al-Farabi and H.G. Wells, focusing primarily on their philosophical underpinnings, governance models, and notions of justice and social organization. This study explores the ideological and structural distinctions that distinguish Al-Farabi’s and Wells’ utopian constructs by comparing Al-Farabi’s metaphysical and ethical framework to Wells’ secular and scientific perspective. In addition, the research evaluates the practical relevance of their ideas for addressing socio-political challenges such as governance integrity, economic inequality, and global cooperation. Finally, this study proposes a synthesized theoretical framework that integrates Al-Farabi’s emphasis on ethical leadership with Wells’ commitment to empirical decision-making and technological advancement. This integrated model combines moral responsibility with scientific pragmatism to navigate the complexities of today’s global landscape.
3. Research Methodology
This study aims to examine the utopian visions of Al-Farabi and H.G. Wells through a comparative analytical methodology that integrates historical-philosophical analysis with a thematic content evaluation. The Virtuous City and A Modern Utopia are critically analyzed alongside relevant secondary sources to contextualize the two thinkers within their respective intellectual traditions. A structured thematic comparison of key aspects such as governance structures, economic organization, and ethical foundations is conducted in this research, highlighting both their similarities and differences. Moreover, the study assesses the theoretical and practical implications of their ideas in contemporary socio-political contexts, particularly about ethical leadership, justice, and the role of science in governance. In order to propose a hybrid utopian paradigm that harmonizes Al-Farabi’s metaphysical idealism with Wells’ empirical rationalism, the study investigates the feasibility of combining these two models. The interdisciplinary approach facilitates a deeper understanding of utopian thought and its relevance to current global challenges.
4. Results
Comparing Al-Farabi and Wells reveals important philosophical distinctions as well as areas of ideological overla.:
1. Governance and Leadership Models
The ideal ruler is considered a philosopher-king embodied by wisdom, moral virtue, and divine knowledge. Governance is hierarchical, with leadership being determined by intellectual and ethical merit. Political authority is determined by the ruler’s ability to harmonize religious, ethical, and rational principles toward advancing society. Wells: Advocates for a technocratic meritocracy, which entails scientifically enlightened leaders. To ensure efficiency and fairness in decision-making, Wells emphasizes empirical knowledge and rational planning, in contrast to Al-Farabi’s reliance on divine wisdom.
2. Social Justice and Economic Structures
According to Al-Farabi, individuals contribute based on their innate abilities and moral capacities in a stratified economy. Economic justice is achieved through equitable wealth distribution and discouragement of material excess. Wells criticizes capitalist inequalities and envisions an economy based on technological innovation, automation, and collective resource management. The state is vital in ensuring social stability and preventing economic exploitation. Using rational economic planning and equitable access to scientific advances, his utopian model seeks to eliminate economic disparities.
3. The Role of Ethics and Science
Moral integrity and philosophical wisdom are essential for achieving social harmony, according to Al-Farabi, who integrates spirituality with rational governance. Wells: Rejects theological premises and advocates science as the primary instrument for societal progress. Justice derives from ethical responsibility and adhering to divine principles. As opposed to metaphysical doctrines, ethical considerations are based on empirical reasoning. Humanism and rationalist ethics are the foundations of his utopia.
4. Conceptualization of Utopia
The purpose of governance is to guide individuals to philosophical enlightenment and moral perfection. Al-Farabi envisions a society where intellectual and spiritual development predominates over material advancement. Wells Defines utopia as a dynamic, evolving construct driven by technological progress and institutional reform. As a means of achieving social justice, he emphasizes adaptability, scientific discovery, and global cooperation..
5. Contemporary Implications
In modern debates about governance integrity, meritocracy, and moral philosophy, Al-Farabi’s emphasis on ethical leadership and justice remains relevant. Through his model, it is possible to design equitable governance structures that balance authority with ethical responsibility. Contributions of Wells: His vision aligns with contemporary global governance challenges, including technological ethics, climate change policy, and socioeconomic equity. His advocacy informs modern policy frameworks emphasizing innovation and empirical decision-making of scientific rationalism.
6. Conclusion
In this study, it is demonstrated that Al-Farabi and Wells construct utopian models based on different epistemological foundations - ethical philosophy versus scientific rationalism—but their insights remain relevant to contemporary discourses regarding governance. As a counterbalance to the technocratic and utilitarian models of governance that dominate modern policymaking, Al-Farabi’s advocacy for ethical statecraft and justice is essential. Conversely, Wells’ emphasis on scientific and technological progress provides pragmatic strategies for addressing current social, economic, and environmental crises. These perspectives can be synthesized into a governance framework integrating empirical decision-making with ethical leadership. This proposed Knowledge-Based Ethical Governance model combines Al-Farabi’s moral imperatives with Wells’ commitment to scientific pragmatism, providing solutions to pressing global issues such as political instability, economic inequality, and technological disruption. In this research, philosophical traditions are critically intertwined with contemporary governance paradigms, thus highlighting the enduring relevance of philosophical traditions. As a result of integrating ethical wisdom with scientific rationalism, we can develop more equitable, sustainable, and adaptive societal structures.

کلیدواژه‌ها [English]

• Al-Farabi
• Herbert Wells
• Virtuous City
• Modern Utopia
• Social Justice