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Pages:
5 pages/≈1375 words
Sources:
2 Sources
Style:
MLA
Subject:
Literature & Language
Type:
Term Paper
Language:
English (U.S.)
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MS Word
Date:
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Topic:

The Concept of "Hatata" in Zera Yacob's Philosophy

Term Paper Instructions:

Objective: Explain a key term (or a concept or a theme; or a set of interconnected terms / concepts/ themes) in a text by connecting one main passage with several subordinate passages in the same text where the same key term appears.
The main passage should not exceed approximately 100 words, but fifty is better. You may cut something from inside the passage if you find it irrelevant [use square brackets]. But make sure the passage is consistent grammatically, and that words that refer to words outside the passage (like pronouns) are explained. When passages have pronouns referring to something outside the passage, you may put their referent in square brackets.
Try to describe and analyze the main passage very closely. (a) What larger argument or plot episode does it serve? What role does the passage play in the argument / plot? (b) What argument or plot
development takes place inside the passage? (c) What are its actors (if any) and key terms / concepts / themes? (d) Try to paraphrase the passage very closely. (e) Determine the meaning and significance mof the key terms inside the passage. (For example, when Ibn Tufayl talks about “intuition” and “ecstasy” you must explain these terms in the context of his Sufism, and not in the general dictionary way). If you have access to an electronic version of the text, search for your key terms in the whole text.
Write out the subordinate passages where they appear, and think about the ways in which they connect to your main passage. (Subordinate passages, when you find them, should be shorter.) You can also search for key words without computer help, when you reread the text; rereading also allows you to look for repetition of concepts and themes, which a mechanical search does not.
Now that you have your main passages and connecting passages, formulate a thesis sentence. A thesis sentence should be specific, relating the main word or concept or theme in your main passage to one or more other words / concepts / themes in your supporting passages.
When you have several pages of notes, make an outline. Students generally compose their outlines from themes: I will talk about X, then about Y: for example, “reason,” “ecstasy,” etc. That is the wrong way to do it. The right way to make an outline is “I will say a about X”, or “I will say that X and Y are related in a, b, and c.” In the same way that your thesis should be about a relation between elements, so each step of your outline should be about relations. Do not start writing your outline until you have a lot of notes and until you have made, in writing, a lot of connections between passages.
Now write your essay. Make sure the beginning contains a few very specific, compact informational remarks about the work and its author (if any). When and where they are from? A sentence or two can be enough. But the reader needs to know who you / what you are going to be talking about. Then present your main passage and explain it very thoroughly, focusing on your key terms. Thenuse your thesis sentence to connect your main passage to your subordinate passages. Think of what you are to say in your paper as providing evidence and reasons for the argument that is in your thesis sentence.
Can your essay refer to the outside world? Yes, if relevant and well explained. Can it contain your personal thoughts on the issue? Certainly, if they are relevant and well explained.
While I do want you to have an idea about the historical context of the work you are writing about, I am not asking you to look up academic articles interpreting the work. I am not forbidding it, either, but that’s not what the assignment is about. Just make sure you cite whatever sources you use. Also make sure you don’t repeat the language of your source unless it’s properly attributed. I am not asking you for outside sources, but I am asking you to note page or margin numbers after quotations. Have as many quotations from the texts you are talking about as you need to support your argument—do not limit yourself to just the chosen passages. The format of the documentation:
MLA style

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The Concept of "Hatata" in Zera Yacob's Philosophy
Zera Yacob was a seventeenth-century Ethiopian philosopher and theologian regarded as one of African philosophy's most essential and original thinkers. His major work, the "Hatata," was written in the Ge'ez language and is considered a masterpiece of Ethiopian literature. In this work, Zera Yacob explores the nature of human existence, the relationship between reason and faith, and the meaning of morality and ethics. Sumner asserts that "even if the faith of men does not come from God, it is however necessary for them and produces good effects, since it deters the wicked from doing evil and comforts the good in their patience'' (12). In this discussion, I will focus on Zera Yacob's emphasis on the importance of reason in human existence and its role in acquiring knowledge and understanding of the world. In Zera Yacob's philosophical work, Hatata refers to the process of reasoning and inquiry. Hatata involves using reason to investigate and understand the world, including our experiences and perceptions (Emmanuel and Wiley-Blackwell 149). According to Zera Yacob, Hatata is essential for acquiring knowledge and understanding and making ethical and moral decisions.
In his central passage, Zera Yacob explains that Hatata is a significant aspect of human nature, as it is through reason and inquiry that we can make sense of the world around us: "Hatata is the nature of humans, and it is with it that we seek knowledge of what is true, false, or doubtful, of what is good or bad, of what is just or unjust, of what is generous or miserly, of what is merciful or cruel, of what is necessary or unnecessary, and of what is beautiful or ugly." This passage highlights the broad range of real-world phenomena that Hatata can apply, from epistemology and ethics to aesthetics and metaphysics. By emphasizing the importance of reason and inquiry in all these areas, Zera Yacob highlights the centrality of Hatata in his philosophical thought.
In Zera Yacob's philosophy, Hatata can be considered a keyword that reflects an important concept related to the individual's nature or character. Hatata is a term that refers to the unique set of characteristics, desires, and predispositions that make each individual who they are. Another keyword in Zera Yacob's philosophy is human nature, which reflects an important concept related to human beings' fundamental characteristics and essence (Assefa 22). Lastly, "inquiry" is also a keyword in Zera Yacob's philosophical work, which emphasises critical thinking and rational inquiry to discover the truth. Zera Yacob believed that humans have the capacity for reason, which is essential for understanding the world and our place in it. He argued that individuals should engage in rational inquiry and critical thinking to gain knowledge and understanding of the nature of reality.
The subordinate passages that support and expand upon this central idea of Hatata include a variety of examples and arguments that demonstrate its significance. One such passage discusses the importance of Hatata in distinguishing truth from lies. "Without Hatata, one cannot distinguish between what is true and what is false. For everything that i...
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