Intersection of medicine and philosophy in Bayt al-Hikme: Avicenna from the perspective of political science

The aim of this thesis is to reveal the importance of Bayt al-Hikma, which can be considered the academic and scientific center of the period, in terms of Islamic political thought, and to present Ibn Sina's observations and findings on political science and philosophy. The House of Wisdom played a pivotal role in the history of thought by introducing the scientific and philosophical heritage of the ancient world to the Islamic world. It served as a center where scholars from diverse regions gathered to compile, discuss, and develop the knowledge accumulated by humanity over centuries. In particular, the works of Greek, Indian, and Persian philosophers were translated into Arabic here. This laid the foundation for the "Golden Age" when Islamic civilization reached its peak in science and thought. The translation and research activities carried out at the House of Wisdom paved the way for the emergence of great philosophers and scientists such as Ibn Sina. Ibn Sina argues that humans can achieve perfection by integrating with society in his philosophical and political thought. According to him, the most virtuous person is one who is developed in terms of reason and morality and possesses wisdom. This person is, in an ideal sense, a prophet; because they introduce people to the Creator and guide them toward proper morality and worship. In order to maintain social order, the lawmaker's duty is to regulate not only religion but also the social structure. According to Ibn Sina, everyone in a society must be productive. In addition, issues such as security measures, control of entry and exit, and military structures must also be addressed in city management. According to Ibn Sina and Farabi, the ideal state is a means for the individual to attain perfection. Both thinkers view the state as an institution that leads humans to happiness. In Ibn Sina's ideal of governance, the figure of the philosopher-prophet comes to the fore, while in Plato this role is played by the "Philosopher-King". There are also striking similarities and differences between Aristotle and Ibn Sina. While Aristotle explains that humans are social beings by nature with the concept of "Zoon Politikon", Ibn Sina similarly argues that humans need a social structure to achieve perfection.