"The debate between animal and human" the use of allegorical language and the relationship with the self in -example of Ikhwan al Safa-

One of the prominent thought groups in the history of Islamic philosophy is the Ikhwan al Safa. The Ikhwan al Safa community produced an encyclopedic corpus consisting of fifty-two treatises. Within this corpus, a significant number of stories are included. In our study, we will discuss the allegorical story titled "The Debate Between Animals and Humans," featured in the Ikhwan al Safa treatises. We will first address the use of allegorical language in philosophy and explore why the Ikhwan al Safa opted for such a mode of expression. Based on the narrative of "The Debate Between Animals and Humans," we will analyze the philosophical perspective and worldview of the Ikhwan al Safa. In this context, since the fundamental basis of their philosophy revolves around the concepts of self and perfection, we will first evaluate the concept of the self. In the final section, we will analyze the allegorical references in the works of the Ikhwan al Safa to discuss the philosophical, political, and academic perspectives they aimed to present. We will also conduct analyses regarding the use of allegorical language in traditional times and what it signifies for contemporary individuals. Our thesis addresses the intellectual foundation of a school of thought in Islamic philosophy that aims to broaden understanding based on the capacity to comprehend philosophical thought, while also reflecting on contemporary examples of allegorical language use according to the preparedness level of today's individuals.