Introduction to Studying the History of Ethical Thought in Egypt in the Context of Reform and Renaissance Projects

Abstract

The twentieth century saw committed involvement in the field of ethics, as demonstrated in the number of edited manuscripts, translated works, and newly published studies. These helped to shift the emphasis in ethics from an exclusive focus on "traditional practical ethics" which dominated the field for centuries to theoretical and philosophical investigations. This paper gives a historical overview of the developments which took place in the field of ethics in modern Egypt, beginning at the end of the nineteenth century. The author explores the motives behind this new interest in the field and the broader context. Additionally, the study examines the key trends and directions that influenced these developments or were actually produced by these developments. This historical period was specifically chosen because it represents the Arab Nahda , a time when interest in centuries-old Arabic heritage was revived. The aim here is to discover new dimensions of the reform movement away from the juristic and maqasid­- oriented endeavours, which have already received much attention.