Claude sumners classical ethiopian philosophy teodros kiros boston. They belong on a map of the history of philosophy, and this blog is. Enno littmann 1904 offers an edition of the geez text of the treatises of zera yacob and walda. Treatise of zera yacob, chapter i ethiopian philosophy. Through a discussion of sumners works on ethiopian philosophy, this paper attempts to situate the place of ethiopian philosophy within the need to reflect on our existential predicaments.
Short manual of the amharic language alonestokes 1966 222. Pdf on nov 14, 2018, fasil merawi and others published zera yacobs hatata and the vitality of an indigenous ethiopian philosophy find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. The translation is sumners, though ive made a few stylistic adjustments. Besides via oral tradition, it was preserved early in written form through geez manuscripts. His faithful contribution to the ethiopian literature and classical study emanates from his undeserved live to the people of ethiopia and its culture. Apr 02, 2014 these two treatises are something very close to the only philosophical works produced in subsaharan africa prior to the colonial period. Along with later figures such as heraclitus and parmenides, they are the presocratics, who put forth pioneering speculations about the natural world, knowledge, and the gods. The earliest extant works are translations of greek religious texts into geez, while the most productive literary movement was the translation of. Students who wish their primary grounding to be in the classics should apply to the program in classical philosophy in this department. Press 1985 abstract this article has no associated abstract. Ancient philosophy shellbourne conference center, july mmx professor john gueguen this course explores the thinkers and doctrines of classical greek and roman philosophy from its emergence in the viii century b. As a first order activity philosophy is seen as the property of all rational beings. These features were intensified under both imperial 194174 and. The specific concept of narrative in african philosophy and its value for crosscultural understanding will surface often and be developed in several ways throughout the book.
Treatise of zera yacob and life and maxims of skendes, classical ethiopian philosophy, claude sumner, addis ababa, ethiopia. Ethiopian philosophy claude sumner, zera yacob, welde. The contribution of native ethiopian philosophers, zara yacob and wold hiwot, to ethiopian philosophy introduction zara yacob was born from poor farmers in aksum. Harris, 1974 sven rubenson, 1976the survival of ethiopian independence classical ethiopian philosophy claude sumner, 1985 correspondence and treaties edited by sven rubenson, 1987 the two zions, reminiscences of jerusalem and. Harris, 1974 sven rubenson, 1976the survival of ethiopian independence classical ethiopian philosophy claude sumner, 1985 correspondence and treaties edited by sven rubenson, 1987 the two zions, reminiscences of jerusalem and ethiopia edward ullendorf, 1988. The first thinkers of antiquity are referred to as the presocratics, even though some of these thinkers were in fact contemporaries of socrates. Pdf on nov 14, 2018, fasil merawi and others published zera. Ethiopian philosophy is the philosophical corpus of the territories of presentday ethiopia and eritrea. A companion to african philosophy edited by kwasi wiredu. African philosophy in ethiopia council for research in values and. Claude sumner and the quest for an ethiopian philosophy. Apr 27, 2012 i hope to put up, and comment on, one chapter a week from zera yacob and eventually walda heywat. Phl 36501 african philosophy and culture spring 2003. Two ethiopian philosophers of the seventeenth century, in wiredu and abraham, eds.
Although some writers have tried to portray zera yacob and walda heywat as belonging to some kind of ethiopian or african philosophical tradition, no such traditions existmores the pity. Nevertheless zera yacob and walda heywat are certainly deserving of more than the nexttononexistent attention they have received for example, to my knowledge there has been no discussion of them or their philosophy in english philosophy journals, though there are a few descriptions in handbooks and encyclopedias. Classical philosophy history of philosophy without any gaps. An interpretive introduction to classical ethiopian philosophy. The ethiopian philosophers prayers are deeply steeped in the mastery of davids psalms. This paper explores primarily the possibility of an indigenous ethiopian philosophy through an analysis of the ideas of a modern ethiopian philosopher, zera yacob. Claude sumners classical ethiopian philosophy, northeast african. Apr 07, 2019 this video is the first in a short series on several positions in african philosophy. The contribution of native ethiopian philosophers, zara yacob. Zera yacobs hatata and the vitality of an indigenous ethiopian. A historical introduction to ethiopian philosophy with an annotated bibliography, a list of references, and textual selections. African philosophy emerged out of the rationality debates and the need to affirm the existence of a unique african intellectual tradition that primarily reflects on the legacies of colonialism. Contains an english translation of zera yacobs treatise and four other texts.
It is via these intimate prayers that the relations among human beings are illuminated. The page is dedicated to ethiopian traditional and modern philosophical reflections. Claude sumner, classical ethiopian philosophy philpapers. In this sense philosophy is seen as a worldview or a principle that guides peoples life. To understand why and how philosophy came into existence in a cultural world dominated by poetic mythology and the codified legal norms, it will be necessary to take into. Mohanty, gilbert ryles criticisms of the concept of consciousness 219 b.
In this chapter, kiros presents an outline of oral and written african philosophical activities in ethiopia. Classical ethiopian philosophy and the modernity of zar. Pdf zera yacobs hatata and the vitality of an indigenous. Studies in phenomenological and classical realism reprint, with new intro. Jean michel massing 1995 journal of the warburg and courtauld institutes 58. Kebede michaels literary works reflect many shades of character and behavior of the ethiopian society. The contents of many of his books are on history, education, development, philosophy, religion, science and so on. Claude sumner is an exemplary scholar for devoted professionalism in philosophy as the late professor of philosophy at addis ababa university, ethiopia. His collection classical ethiopian philosophy published by adey in california in 1994, with a five volume set published by commercial. For the purpose of analysis, the term geez will simply refer to the script and not the language, since the script is applicable to its modern counterparts, just as roman does not refer to the ancient roman spoken language but the alphabet of the same name. Zera yacobs hatata and the vitality of an indigenous.
Ethiopian philosophy is the philosophical corpus of the territories of presentday ethiopia and. Memoirs of corliss lamont, 1990 remembering john masefield, 1990. A brief annotated bibliography of ethiopian philosophy. The contents of many of his books are on history, education, development, philosophy, religion, science and. This is what is also known as the loose sense of philosophy. There, thales and his successors anaximander and anaximines.
Classical ethiopian philosophy claude sumner 1985 223. However, philosophy has also been seen more specifically as a secondorder discipline, in contrast to first order disciplines which deal with. A brief history of classical education sketch and overview i hope you will find it refreshing to discover that the method of classical education is simple yet profound, like so many great ideas from the wheel to the umbrella. I am tempted to ask what motivates teodros to write with such depth and scope on a subject that seems, on the surface, contingent to a fruitful academic life. Classical greek philosophy begins in the eastern mediterranean in the 6th century bc, with the earliest thinkers of the city of miletus. His collection classical ethiopian philosophy published by adey in. Such a debate also centered on whether there is a unique philosophical tradition rooted on african traditional practices.
See as well the summary of the debate in claude sumner, the source of african philosophy. Categories no categories specified categorize this paper call number b5405. The concept, philosophy, is understood both as a first order activity and also as a second order activity. The philosophy of humanism, eighth edition, 1997 posthumous lovers credo. In the first chapter it is affirmed that ethiopian philosophy has two dominant traditions, a classical ethiopian philosophy, and b the philosophy of zar a ya. Doctor of philosophy in classical philosophy the purpose of the program in classical philosophy is to provide the student with the basic training in both philosophy and classical philology necessary for work in this field. The ethiopian orthodox tewahido church faith and order. Evaluating the ethiopian wisdom tradition, in research in. What is here called crosscultural understanding is itself a kind of compara. I hope to put up, and comment on, one chapter a week from zera yacob and eventually walda heywat. Nov 19, 2017 classical ethiopian philosophy satisfies the condition of an original philosophical endeavor that is both textual and oral. Poems of love, 1994 the illusion of immortality, fifth edition, 1990 freedom of choice affirmed, third edition, 1990 freedom is as freedom does. The earliest extant works are translations of greek religious texts into geez, while the most productive literary movement was the translation of texts from arabic under the solomonid dynasty. He studied the books of the psalms of david and the interpretation of the holy scriptures.
Animated by the religious controversies and disputes over the nature of true faith in modern ethiopia, zera yacob developed a unique indigenous philosophy in his work the hatata. The contribution of native ethiopian philosophers, zara. This video is the first in a short series on several positions in african philosophy. Political economy of ethiopia from the imperial period to. The human condition in africa, ohio university press, 1992. As a youth he received a thorough traditional education in scripture and poetry ethiopia had long been a christian countryand afterwards spent several years teaching. This philosophy occupies a unique position within african philosophy. The term political philosophy can be used loosely to cover any abstract thought about politics, law or society philosophy being, in general terms, the search for wisdom and understanding. Oda the color of my song, four ethiopian dramas, petros, the dream of the king, the silence of the strings, oda being published in yaounde, cameroon, in 1977. Things take a more ethical turn with socrates, with his relentless.
African philosophy in ethiopia ethiopian philosophical studies ii with a memorial of claude sumner edited by bekele gutema charles c. Classical ethiopian philosophy, commercial printing press, 1985. Classical ethiopian philosophy unknown binding january 1, 1994 by claude sumner author see all formats and editions hide other formats and editions. In such a context, ethiopian philosophy represents a unique approach in defying. Oct 23, 2016 the ethiopian philosophers prayers are deeply steeped in the mastery of davids psalms. He also translated among many romeo and juliet, as well as macbeth of william shakespeare. Selected papers from the sixth annual conference of the isaps. I will start my discussion by situating the forces that motivated sumners pursuits, and also elaborating on sumners explorations into the classical. The series includes ethnophilosophy, ubuntu philosophy, yoruba epistemology, akan. Commercial printing press, the contribution of native ethiopian philosophers, zara yacob and wolde hiwot, to ethiopian philosophy. Evaluating the ethiopian wisdom tradition, in research in african literatures, 302, summer 1999, 165181. The first podcasts in the series look at the beginnings of greek philosophy in the 6th century bc in the city of miletus, on the coast of asia minor modern day turkey.
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