CRITICISM

Abed, Shukri B. “Particulars and Universals: An Introduction to Alfārābī's Logical Lexicon.” In Aristotelian Logic and the Arabic Language in Alfarabi, pp. 1-34. Albany: State University Of New York Press, 1991.

Explains the meanings of terms used by al-Fārābī in his writings on logic.

Black, Deborah L. “Al-Fārābī.” In History of Islamic Philosophy, Part I, edited by Seyyed Hossein Nasr and Oliver Leaman, pp. 178-97. London: Routledge, 1996.

Examines numerous works by al-Fārābī and describes the approaches he takes in writing about logic, philosophy, psychology, and metaphysics.

Davidson, Herbert A. “Alfarabi and Avicenna on the Active Intellect.” Viator 3 (1972): 109-78.

Compares and contrasts the theories of al-Fārābī and tenth-century Arabian philosopher Avicenna concerning a notion advanced by Aristotle.

———. “Alfarabi on Emanation, the Active Intellect, and Human Intellect.” In Alfarabi, Avicenna, and Averroes, on Intellect: Their Cosmologies, Theories of the Active Intellect, and Theories of Human Intellect, pp. 44-73. New York: Oxford University Press, 1992.

Maintains that a careful reading of four treatises reveals some discrepancies in al-Fārābī's positions.

Druart, Thérèse-Anne. “Substance in Arabic Philosophy: Al-Farabi's Discussion.” Proceedings of the American Catholic Philosophical Association 61 (1987): 88-97.

Analyzes al-Fārābī's discussion of the nature of substance and its philosophical implications.

Fakhry, Majid. “The Further Development of Islamic Neoplatonism.” In A History of Islamic Philosophy, second ed., pp. 107-62. New York: Columbia University Press, 1983.

Overview of al-Fārābī's philosophy and works.

Galston, Miriam. “A Re-examination of Al-Fārābī's Neoplatonism.” Journal of the History of Philosophy 15, no. 1 (January 1977): 13-32.

Contends that it is incorrect to consider al-Fārābī a Neoplatonist without qualification.

———. “Cities of Excellence.” In Politics and Excellence: The Political Philosophy of Alfarabi, pp. 146-79. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1990.

Examines the purpose of the city of excellence and how it functions, and discusses problems and difficulties in al-Fārābī's treatment of it.

Kemal, Salim. “Logic and Poetry.” In The Poetics of Alfarabi and Avicenna, pp. 86-138. Leiden, Netherlands: E. J. Brill, 1991.

Analyzes al-Fārābī's views on poetry and imagination.

Mahdi, Muhsin. “Remarks on Alfarabi's Attainment of Happiness.” Essays on Islamic Philosophy and Science, edited by George P. Hourani, pp. 47-66. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1975.

Explanation of al-Fārābī's emphasis on the theoretical sciences over and above other sciences, using Attainment of Happiness as an example.

———. “Al-Fārābī's Imperfect State.” Journal of the American Oriental Society 110, no. 4 (October-December 1990): 691-726.

Examines Richard Walzer's revised text of the Virtuous City.

Netton, Ian Richard. Alfārābī and His School, London: Routledge, 1992.

Full-length study of al-Fārābī and his philosophy.

Najjar, Fauzi M. “Fārābī's Political Philosophy and Shī'ism.” Studia Islamica 14 (1961): 57-72.

Describes differences between Sunni and Shi'ite political theory and explores how these differences influenced al-Fārābī's political philosophy.

Rosenthal, Erwin I. J. “The Place of Politics in the Philosophy of Al-Farabi.” Islamic Culture 29, no. 3 (July 1955): 157-78.

Analyzes al-Fārābī's political thought and its Platonic, Aristotelian, and Islamic roots.

Walzer, Richard. “Al-Fārābī's Theory of Prophecy and Divination.” In Greek into Arabic: Essays on Islamic Philosophy, pp. 206-19. Oxford, U.K.: Bruno Cassirer, 1962.

Explores al-Fārābī's views on prophetic imagination.

Zimmermann, F. W. “Some Observations on Al-Farabi and Logical Tradition.” Islamic Philosophy and the Classical Tradition: Essays Presented by His Friends and Pupils to Richard Walzer on His Seventieth Birthday, edited by S. M. Stern, Albert Hourani, and Vivian Brown, pp. 517-46. Columbia: University of South Carolina Press, 1972.

Considers problems of vocabulary and translation in some of al-Fārābī's passages on logic.

Additional coverage of Alfarabi's life and career is contained in the following source published by the Gale Group: Dictionary of Literary Biography, Vol. 115.