Treatise on Temperament by Abū Naṣr al-Fārābī: A Study and Critical Edition

Abstract

This study offers a philosophical interpretation of al-Fārābī manuscript, entitled Treatise on Temperament (Risāla fī al-Mizāj). The work offers deep insight into human temperament, explaining its formation through the interaction of the four natural qualities: heat, cold, moisture, and dryness, and emphasizing the need for balance to sustain mental and physical health. The study sheds light on al-Fārābī’s conception of the interrelation between body, intellect, and ethics, emphasizing that true human perfection can be achieved only through self-cultivation and moral refinement, which constitute the very basis of philosophy. al-Fārābī integrates the ideas of Plato, Aristotle, and Galen into a unified dialogue with Islamic thought. The manuscript reveals a lesser-known aspect of his philosophy, broadening understanding of temperament and knowledge in Islamic tradition and enriching medieval philosophy, medicine, and psychology studies.