Zera Yacob (1599-1692)

However!

• The history of Western thought is not simple, nor is it completely Western

o There were multitude of influences that were not “odd, dead, white guys.”

o Some figures coincided or pre-dated major development in Western thought

• Zera Yacob was an example, as his thought that undermined the dominant dogma and

philosophy coincided with Rene Descartes, who is considered the father of Modern

philosophy

Yacob

• Born in modern day Aksum in Ethiopia

• While he was born into a farming family, his father still funded his schooling

• In the early 1600s, the new emperor required all to convert to Catholicism

o Yacob refused and went into exile for 2 years

• When the emperor died, his son returned the empire to Ethiopian Orthodox

o Yacob returned to civilization, becoming a tutor and marrying

Theme: Conflicts Based on Faith

• “If God is the guardian of men, how is it that their nature is thus deeply corrupted?” and

I said: “How does God know, or is there anyone in heaven who knows? Or if there is one

who knows, why does he remain silent on men’s depravity while the corrupt his name

and act with iniquity in his holy name?”

• Both in his biography and the text there is a theme of religious conflict

o According to Yacob, all religion claims to have the truth, which motivates war

and conflicts

• For Yacob, all religious doctrines were fallible, because they were written by people

Theme: How to Reach Truth

• “God did not create me intelligent without a purpose, that is to look for him and to

grasp him and his wisdom in the path he has opened for me and to worship him as long

as I live.” And still thinking on the same subject, I said to myself: “Why is it that all men

do not adhere to truth, instead of falsehood?” [The cause] seemed to be the nature of

man which is weak and sluggish. Man aspires to know truth and the hidden things of

Lecture Zera Yacob

introduction to philosophy (PHL 200)