ABSTRACT
Miskawayh’s theory of friendship is characterized by the fusion of a religious and a socio-political concept of friendship. A close reading of the chapter on friendship essentially reveals that a life dedicated to God’s revelation is attached to seeking understanding of human existence through philosophical inquiry. And this in turn is framed as a collective enterprise, in which the individual actively seeks the support of and the collaboration with others. Protecting the individuality of the self and at the same time seeing oneself as part of a larger collective, walking this line without succumbing to either side has its roots in Aristotelian philosophy, but Miskawayh turns it into a cornerstone of his Tahḏīb al-aḫlāq, while orienting himself strongly toward Neo-Platonic ideas.
