Sharifistani philosophy

Philosophy, especially philosophy of religion, aesthetics, ethics and metaphysics, is popular in Sharifistan and promoted by the government. It is compulsory for much of secondary education.Political philosophy is engaged in, due to most intellectual cricitism of the government being accepted (and in the reign of the Prince-Regent Khalid Suleiman Khan being encouraged) and since the legalisation of Communist activism a school of Marxist philosophy has emerged.

Philosophy of religion

Most popular in the philosphy of religion is Suleiman Ahmed Muhammad Khalid Effendi's shadow theory which states that any theory of God is a "shadow" of the truth (something bearing some similarities to the truth whilst being an illusion) rather than the truth as God (Professor Effendi uses the terms "Allah" and "God" interchangeably) is incomprehensible (impossible to understand).This is followed by most Sharifistani philosophers of religion. Others follow a Witgenstienian perspective where distinguishing between the "shadow" and truth is seen as meaningless.

Ethics

Most Sharifistani ethicists follow natural law theory similar to Suleiman Ahmed Muhammad Khalid Effendi. There are however other schools of thought such as the Kantian tradition of Abdullah Ali Khan(politician) and the Utilitarian tradition of Ahmed Demir (philosopher). Marxist philosophers borrow arguments from Ahmed Demir but expand upon them to create an anti-exploitation, pro-freedom philosophy aimed at "reducing the power of man over man" in a consequentialist point of view.

Metaphysics

Most Sharifistanis believe in mind-body dualism following the floating man thought experiment. Most Marxist philosophers disagree however.

Political philosophy

The most common stance in Sharifistani political philosophy is the social contract theory. This argument holds that by presence in Sharifistan one is benefitting from the protection of the Sultan (or Prince-Regent) and is this obliged to follow Sharifistani law. The Marxist philosophers on the other hand hold that the Sharifistani government exists for the benefit of the landed nobility (who often serve as senior government and military officials) and the benefit of companies contracted by the state creating “state feudalism.” Utilitarian political philosophers are divided into two camps: radical utilitarians such as Ahmed Demir (philosopher) who believe that a liberal, social democracy would be better for the majority and the “government house utilitarians” who believe that the Sharifistan government are the best possible government for the majority.