Maat: The Moral Ideal in Ancient Egypt

by Maulana Karenga

This work is a critical examination of Maat, the moral ideal in ancient Egypt. It seeks to present Maat in the language of modern moral discourse while at the same time preserving and building on its distinctiveness as a moral ideal capable of inspiring and maintaining ethical philosophic reflection. The effort here is one of both interpretation and transmission of an ethical tradition, a project in which tradition is seen not simply as a precondition and process in which one comes, but also as an ongoing product of one's efforts to understand it. Locating himself within the tradition, the author seeks to test the conceptual elasticity of its major categories and contentions and to establish its capacity for critical moral discourse

Genres: Philosophy, History, Egypt, Spirituality

480 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2003

Reviews

[Faraz Yashar · Rating 3 out of 5]

While a riveting take on Ancient Egyptian moral philosophy, Karenga's presentation paints a uniform and rosey of a society with diverse cultural and religious factions. At times he exaggerates sociopolitical harmony or willfully ignores certain historical facts contrary to his thesis. While a wonderful perspective, I'd recommend all who read the text exercise caution given Karenga's troubled past and his desire to seek status as a king while transforming a history. I'd deeply appreciate a review of his work, particularly by women.