Write a short reflection paper on the “first definition of the philosopher,” see below, as documented in Obenga’s essay.
What resonates, what stands out, what should we be thinking about more carefully when it comes to talking about philosophy in ancient KMT (Kemet)?
The ancient Egyptians meant by rekh or sai a ‘‘wise human being’’ or ‘‘philoso pher.’’ It was not just a question of words. Two thousand years ago in ancient Egypt, without a doubt, the ‘‘inscription of Antef’’ gave the first clear and distinct statement conveying the fundamental meaning of a ‘‘philosopher.’’ This is a demonstrable fact. The German Egyptologist Hellmut Brunner translates the ‘‘inscription of Antef,’’ which gives the definition of a ‘‘philosopher,’’ as follows: [He is the one] whose heart is informed about these things which would be otherwise ignored, the one who is clear-sighted when he is deep into a problem, the one who is moderate in his actions, who penetrates ancient writings, whose advice is [sought] to unravel complications, who is really wise, who instructed his own heart, who stays awake at night as he looks for the right paths, who surpasses what he accomplished yesterday, who is wiser than a sage, who brought himself to wisdom, who asks for advice and sees to it that he is asked advice. (Inscription of Antef, 12th Dynasty, 1991–1782 bc).
