Ethiopia, philosophy in

Ethiopia is a unique phenomenon in Africa for three reasons. First, because of its historical continuity and political independence; second because of its written language and third because of its written philosophy. Ethiopian philosophy in the broadest sense is expressed in both oral and written language. In this entry only the written documents are dealt with. This methodological approach limits the investigation to linguistic and cultural phenomena as it deals with the ancient Semitic language known as Ethiopic and the Christian zones of influence on the high plateaus of Ethiopia. There are five basic texts of Ethiopian philosophical literature: the Physiologue (the Fisalgwos) (c. fifth century ad), The Book of the Wise Philosophers (1510/22), The Life and Maxims of Skendes (c. eleventh century ad), The Treatise of Zar’a Ya‘ecob (1667) and The Treatise of Wäldä Heywåt (c. eighteenth century). The first three are adaptations of works transmitted from Greek sources through Arabic; the latter two (appearing in modern publications in a combined form) are original works of a rationalist flavour.