Ancient Egyptian philosophy refers to the philosophical works and beliefs of Ancient Egypt. There is some debate regarding its true scope and nature.[1]
One Egyptian figure often considered an early philosopher is Ptahhotep.[2] He served as vizier to the pharaoh in the late 25th, early 24th century BC. Ptahhotep is known for his comprehensive work on ethical behavior and moral philosophy, called The Maxims of Ptahhotep. The work, which is believed to have been compiled by his grandson Ptahhotep Tjefi, is a series of 37 letters or maxims addressed to his son, Akhethotep, speaking on such topics as daily behavior and ethical practices.[3][4]
Man perishes; his corpse turns to dust; all his relatives return to the earth. But writings make him remembered in the mouth of the reader. A book is more effective than a well-built house or a tomb-chapel, better than an established villa or a stela in the temple! [...] They gave themselves a book as their lector-priest, a writing-board as their dutiful son. Teachings are their mausolea, the reed-pen their child, the burnishing-stone their wife. Both great and small are given them as their children, for the writer is chief.[6]
Herbjørnsrud writes:
"In 2018, projects are under way to translate several ancient Egyptian texts for the first time. Yet we already have a wide variety of genres to choose from in order to study the manuscripts from a philosophical perspective: The many maxims in “The Teaching of Ptahhotep”, the earliest preserved manuscript of this vizier of the fifth dynasty is from the 19th century BC, in which he also argues that you should “follow your heart”; “The Teaching of Ani”, written by a humble middle-class scribe in the 13th century BC, which gives advice to the ordinary man; “The Satire of the Trades” by Khety, who tries to convince his son Pepy to “love books more than your mother” as there is nothing “on earth” like being a scribe; the masterpiece “The Dispute Between a Man and His Ba” of the 19th century BC – in which a man laments “the misery of life,” while his ba (personality/soul) replies that life is good, that he should rather “ponder life” as it is a burial that is miserable – recently discussed by Peter Adamson and Chike Jeffers in their “Africana Philosophy” podcast series. Or we can read Amennakht (active in 1170–1140 BC), the leading intellectual of the scribal town Deir El-Medina, whose teaching states that “it is good to finish school, better than the smell of lotus blossoms in summer.”[5]
Theology and cosmologyEdit
Theology and cosmology were central concerns in Egyptian thought. Perhaps the earliest form of a monotheistictheology also emerged in Egypt, with the rise of the Amarna theology (or Atenism) of Akhenaten (14th century BCE), which held that the solar creation deity Aten was the only god. This has been described as a "monotheistic revolution" by egyptologistJan Assmann, though it also drew on previous developments in Egyptian thought, particularly the "New Solar Theology" based around Amun-Ra.[7][8] These theological developments also influenced the post-Amarna Ramesside theology, which retained a focus on a single creative solar deity (though without outright rejection of other gods, which are now seen as manifestations of the main solar deity). This period also saw the development of the concept of the ba (soul) and its relation to god.[8]
Influence on Ancient Greek philosophyEdit
Several of the ancient Greek philosophers regarded Egypt as a place of wisdom and philosophy. Isocrates (b. 436 BC) states in Busiris that "all men agree the Egyptians are the healthiest and most long of life among men; and then for the soul they introduced philosophy's training, a pursuit which has the power, not only to establish laws, but also to investigate the nature of the universe. "[9] He declares that Greek writers traveled to Egypt to seek knowledge. One of them was Pythagoras of Samos who "was first to bring to the Greeks all philosophy," according to Isocrates.
Plato states in Phaedrus that the Egyptian Thoth "invented numbers and arithmetic... and, most important of all, letters.”[10] In Plato's Timaeus,Socrates quotes the ancient Egyptian wise men when the law-giver Solon travels to Egypt to learn: "O Solon, Solon, you Greeks are always children."[11]Aristotle attests to Egypt being the original land of wisdom, as when he states in Politics that "Egyptians are reputed to be the oldest of nations, but they have always had laws and a political system."[12]
Notes and referencesEdit
^Juan José Castillos, Ancient Egyptian Philosophy, RSUE 31, 2014, 29-37.
^Fontaine, Carole R. "A Modern Look at Ancient Wisdom: The Instruction of Ptahhotep Revisited." The Biblical Archaeologist 44, no. 3 (1981): 155-60. doi:10.2307/3209606.
^Browder, Anthony (1988). Nile Valley Contributions to Civilization. Karmaic Institute.
^Simpson, W. K., ed. The Maxims of Ptahhotep. Las Vegas, Nevada: Evan Blythin, 1986.
^ abHerbjørnsrud, Dag (2018-12-17). "The Radical Philosophy of Egypt: Forget God and Family, Write!". Blog of the APA. Retrieved 2019-06-19.
^"Writings from Ancient Egypt: Be a Writer". www.penguin.co.uk. Retrieved 2019-06-19.
^Najovits, Simson (2004). Egypt, the Trunk of the Tree, A Modern Survey of and Ancient Land, Vol. II. New York: Algora Publishing. p. 131. ISBN978-0875862569.
^ abAssmann, Jan (2004). "Theological Responses to Amarna" (PDF). In Knoppers, Gary N.; Hirsch, Antoine (eds.). Egypt, Israel, and the Ancient Mediterranean World. Studies in Honor of Donald B. Redford. Leiden/Boston. pp. 179–191. (PDF) from the original on 18 May 2020.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^"Aristotle, Politics, Book 7, section 1329b". www.perseus.tufts.edu. Retrieved 2019-06-19.
BibliographyEdit
Molefi Kete Asante, The Egyptian Philosophers: Ancient African Voices for These Times, From Imhotep to Akhenaton, Chicago, African American Images, 2000.
ancient, egyptian, philosophy, refers, philosophical, works, beliefs, ancient, egypt, there, some, debate, regarding, true, scope, nature, contents, notable, works, theology, cosmology, influence, ancient, greek, philosophy, notes, references, bibliography, al. Ancient Egyptian philosophy refers to the philosophical works and beliefs of Ancient Egypt There is some debate regarding its true scope and nature 1 Contents 1 Notable works 2 Theology and cosmology 3 Influence on Ancient Greek philosophy 4 Notes and references 5 Bibliography 6 See alsoNotable works EditFurther information Wisdom literature Ancient Egyptian literature One Egyptian figure often considered an early philosopher is Ptahhotep 2 He served as vizier to the pharaoh in the late 25th early 24th century BC Ptahhotep is known for his comprehensive work on ethical behavior and moral philosophy called The Maxims of Ptahhotep The work which is believed to have been compiled by his grandson Ptahhotep Tjefi is a series of 37 letters or maxims addressed to his son Akhethotep speaking on such topics as daily behavior and ethical practices 3 4 Dag Herbjornsrud writing for the American Philosophical Association describes the 3200 year old manuscript The Immortality of Writers or Be a Writer c 1200 BC as a remarkable example of classical Egyptian philosophy 5 The manuscript attributed to the writer Irsesh states Man perishes his corpse turns to dust all his relatives return to the earth But writings make him remembered in the mouth of the reader A book is more effective than a well built house or a tomb chapel better than an established villa or a stela in the temple They gave themselves a book as their lector priest a writing board as their dutiful son Teachings are their mausolea the reed pen their child the burnishing stone their wife Both great and small are given them as their children for the writer is chief 6 Herbjornsrud writes In 2018 projects are under way to translate several ancient Egyptian texts for the first time Yet we already have a wide variety of genres to choose from in order to study the manuscripts from a philosophical perspective The many maxims in The Teaching of Ptahhotep the earliest preserved manuscript of this vizier of the fifth dynasty is from the 19th century BC in which he also argues that you should follow your heart The Teaching of Ani written by a humble middle class scribe in the 13th century BC which gives advice to the ordinary man The Satire of the Trades by Khety who tries to convince his son Pepy to love books more than your mother as there is nothing on earth like being a scribe the masterpiece The Dispute Between a Man and His Ba of the 19th century BC in which a man laments the misery of life while his ba personality soul replies that life is good that he should rather ponder life as it is a burial that is miserable recently discussed by Peter Adamson and Chike Jeffers in their Africana Philosophy podcast series Or we can read Amennakht active in 1170 1140 BC the leading intellectual of the scribal town Deir El Medina whose teaching states that it is good to finish school better than the smell of lotus blossoms in summer 5 Theology and cosmology EditTheology and cosmology were central concerns in Egyptian thought Perhaps the earliest form of a monotheistic theology also emerged in Egypt with the rise of the Amarna theology or Atenism of Akhenaten 14th century BCE which held that the solar creation deity Aten was the only god This has been described as a monotheistic revolution by egyptologist Jan Assmann though it also drew on previous developments in Egyptian thought particularly the New Solar Theology based around Amun Ra 7 8 These theological developments also influenced the post Amarna Ramesside theology which retained a focus on a single creative solar deity though without outright rejection of other gods which are now seen as manifestations of the main solar deity This period also saw the development of the concept of the ba soul and its relation to god 8 Influence on Ancient Greek philosophy EditSeveral of the ancient Greek philosophers regarded Egypt as a place of wisdom and philosophy Isocrates b 436 BC states in Busiris that all men agree the Egyptians are the healthiest and most long of life among men and then for the soul they introduced philosophy s training a pursuit which has the power not only to establish laws but also to investigate the nature of the universe 9 He declares that Greek writers traveled to Egypt to seek knowledge One of them was Pythagoras of Samos who was first to bring to the Greeks all philosophy according to Isocrates Plato states in Phaedrus that the Egyptian Thoth invented numbers and arithmetic and most important of all letters 10 In Plato s Timaeus Socrates quotes the ancient Egyptian wise men when the law giver Solon travels to Egypt to learn O Solon Solon you Greeks are always children 11 Aristotle attests to Egypt being the original land of wisdom as when he states in Politics that Egyptians are reputed to be the oldest of nations but they have always had laws and a political system 12 Notes and references Edit Juan Jose Castillos Ancient Egyptian Philosophy RSUE 31 2014 29 37 Fontaine Carole R A Modern Look at Ancient Wisdom The Instruction of Ptahhotep Revisited The Biblical Archaeologist 44 no 3 1981 155 60 doi 10 2307 3209606 Browder Anthony 1988 Nile Valley Contributions to Civilization Karmaic Institute Simpson W K ed The Maxims of Ptahhotep Las Vegas Nevada Evan Blythin 1986 a b Herbjornsrud Dag 2018 12 17 The Radical Philosophy of Egypt Forget God and Family Write Blog of the APA Retrieved 2019 06 19 Writings from Ancient Egypt Be a Writer www penguin co uk Retrieved 2019 06 19 Najovits Simson 2004 Egypt the Trunk of the Tree A Modern Survey of and Ancient Land Vol II New York Algora Publishing p 131 ISBN 978 0875862569 a b Assmann Jan 2004 Theological Responses to Amarna PDF In Knoppers Gary N Hirsch Antoine eds Egypt Israel and the Ancient Mediterranean World Studies in Honor of Donald B Redford Leiden Boston pp 179 191 Archived PDF from the original on 18 May 2020 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Isocrates Busiris section 22 www perseus tufts edu Retrieved 2019 06 19 Plato Phaedrus section 274d www perseus tufts edu Retrieved 2019 06 19 Plato Timaeus section 21e www perseus tufts edu Retrieved 2019 06 19 Aristotle Politics Book 7 section 1329b www perseus tufts edu Retrieved 2019 06 19 Bibliography EditMolefi Kete Asante The Egyptian Philosophers Ancient African Voices for These Times From Imhotep to Akhenaton Chicago African American Images 2000 See also EditAfrican philosophy Book of Thoth Egyptology Isfet Egyptian mythology Maat Maxims of Ptahhotep Middle Eastern philosophy Philosophy in Coptic Sebayt Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ancient Egyptian philosophy amp oldid 1162634008, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
