Q0561
“Political science inquires into the kinds of voluntary actions and ways of…” — Al-Farabi (Enumeration of the Sciences, on political…)
Verified English quotation. Primary source: Enumeration of the Sciences, on political science. Theme: politics.
English
Political science inquires into the kinds of voluntary actions and ways of life, and into the happiness that is the end of the human being.
Source and attribution
The archive attributes this English wording to Enumeration of the Sciences, on political science and files it under Islamic Philosophy. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
About Al-Farabi
Abū Naṣr al-Fārābī (c. 870–950), later called the ‘Second Teacher’ after Aristotle, worked mainly in Baghdad and Syria.
How to read this passage
Across 4 recurring voices here (notably Plato and Kwasi Wiredu), politics is framed through Africana Philosophy and Platonism. Some passages define politics; others warn how it fails; still others relocate it inside habit, community, or language. This passage enters that discussion through politics, happiness.
Concepts in this quote
- Politics
- Politics appears in this archive as a live philosophical concern—not a slogan. These verified English passages show how thinkers treat politics as a problem of judgment, practice, or explanation.
- Happiness
- Happiness—or flourishing—is a central aim in ethics: what makes a life go well, and whether pleasure alone is enough.
How to cite this quotation
APA: Al-Farabi. (n.d.). Political science inquires into the kinds of voluntary actions and ways of life, and into the happiness that is the end of the human being. In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0561
MLA: Al-Farabi. “Political science inquires into the kinds of voluntary….” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0561.
Chicago: Al-Farabi. “Political science inquires into the kinds of voluntary….” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0561.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “Political science inquires into the kinds of voluntary…”?
The passage is attributed to Al-Farabi, Enumeration of the Sciences, on political science. The archive attributes this English wording to Enumeration of the Sciences, on political science and files it under Islamic Philosophy. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
What does Al-Farabi mean by politics?
Across 4 recurring voices here (notably Plato and Kwasi Wiredu), politics is framed through Africana Philosophy and Platonism. Some passages define politics; others warn how it fails; still others relocate it inside habit, community, or language. This passage enters that discussion through politics, happiness.