Davani's
Jalalian Ethics
written in 1475 in Persia by the
philosopher Jalal al-Din Davani of Shiraz (1426-1502), as a "mirror for
princes"
for the Aq-Qoyunlu ("White Sheep" Turks) king,
Uzun Hasan, who ruled 1457-1478.
"Practical Philosophy of the Muhammadan People"
Background on political philosophy:
- Farabi
(d. 950) and the revival of Greek political philosophy;
caliph-imam=philosopher-king (Plato)
- Aristotle's
Ethics and Politics commented on in Arabic by
Miskawayh (10th cent.)
and in Persian by Tusi (13th cent.)
- combined
with pre-Islamic Persian political philosophy/kingship
- Davani
reworked and expanded on Tusi's Nasirean
Ethics
- parallel
to Islamic legal ethics
- writing
style: numbered classification systems
Questions:
- How is
sultanate related to "vicegerency" or caliphate? (vicegerent =
delegated ruler, or representative = caliph/khalifa). In other words,
what is the relation between politics and religion?
- How does
Davani compare with Machiavelli as a political theorist?
- What is
the role of Sufism for the king?
- What
relation does this kind of "mirror for princes" have to political
reality?
Outline of text
2 kinds of government (just and unjust)
7 qualities of emperors
- first,
high concentration
- correct
knowledge and thought
- powerful
resolve
- patience
in enduring afflictions
- prosperity
- obedient
soldiers
- rank
4 classes of
people
- scholars
- soldiers
- traders
and artisans
- farmers
5 divisions of
humanity (levels of good and bad)
10 pillars of justice
- think
like subjects
- rescue
the needy
- avoid
absorption in pleasure
- kindness
- please God
- do not
oppose God
- justice
and mercy
- seek men
of God
- treat all
as deserving
- leave no
opportunity for oppression
3 qualities of
army
punishment and forgiveness
the character of kings