Who is a philosopher?
Every single one of us is a philosopher, even if we do not know it. We are philosophers when we decide what we think is right or wrong. We are philosophers when we think about how we’d like our government to work. We are philosophers when we think about our role in the world – how we should dedicate our lives, and how we got here in the first place. At its most basic level, to be a philosopher is simply to think. More specifically, to think critically – by questioning things, and through debate.
Yet many of these questions are not easy to answer, and throughout history, humans have debated these core principles. Thousands of books have been written on some of the most seemingly simple philosophical questions. Every now and then, an extremely important philosopher will challenge pre-existing thought, and change the way we see the world.
The Life of Zera Yacob
Zera Yacob was one such philosopher. He was born into a poor farming family in Northern Ethiopia in 1599. Though poor, his family recognised and supported his promising mind. They sent him away to school where he would study rhetoric (the study of effective speech or writing), poetry, and critical thinking – a skill fundamental to philosophy.
The leader, King Susenyos, was persuaded to convert to Catholicism, and ordered all his people to do the same. Zera Yacob refused, and ran away to avoid being persecuted – punished for what he believed in. Central to Yacob’s philosophy was the belief that nobody should be hurt for following their religion.
Yacob found refuge in a cave in the region of Shewa, where he decided to live a simple life. He only left the cave to find and purchase food, and spent the rest of his time dedicated to one thing: philosophy.
The philosophy he developed in his cave predated the Enlightenment, an important European movement which came to many of the same answers. He believed in the importance of reason, which means to compare different ideas, and use logic to determine the correct answer. He believed men and women were created equal, and should be treated equally. He believed slavery was wrong, and criticized established religious organizations. For Yacob, faith was personal, and could not be run by any single authority.
What can Zera Yacob teach us?
The life and work of this extraordinary man show us how important it is to think critically about our surroundings. We should take nothing for granted, and should instead use our education to determine what we ourselves think about the world.
And if we study the life and work of Zera Yacob, despite how long ago he lived, we might learn something about the world today. Yacob had lots to say about the evils of discrimination, the importance of living in harmony with each other, and the equality of women. All these things remain relevant.
Conclusion
Philosophy is a subject which affects every one of us, every single day. It helps us understand the most important questions in life – how we should act, and how to be kind to each other. Zera Yacob, born in Ethiopia in 1599, was a philosopher who made extremely important contributions to these questions. Living alone in a cave, he came up with ideas which will help us all live better lives. He believed in freedom of religious expression and the equality of men and women. His life proves to us all how, with education and critical thought, we can hope to be better.
