Imagination and its Functions in Fārābī

Many believe that the problem of imagination was propounded after Suhrawardī and later by Mullā Ṣadrā in a more systematic form. However, the truth is that many of the important ideas concerning imagination were presented by Fārābī, who deliberated over them among his ontological and epistemological discussions. Unlike the Greek tradition, in which imagination lacked an epistemological aspect, and unlike Plato and Aristotle, Fārābī was the first to pay particular attention to its epistemological aspect and explained and analyzed several domains in unity with imagination. Therefore, imagination has various functions in Fārābī’s epistemological system, including protecting sensory forms; the analysis and synthesis of forms; comparison; contrast; imitation; metaphorical thought; education and punishment; provoking act; leading people towards happiness; perception of meaning particularly in relation to the problem of dreams, and revelation and unveiling. Some of these functions are presently receiving great attention in various sciences. Although Fārābī had a negative approach to imagination when it prevents intellection or replaces the intellect, he viewed its other functions positively in his works.