On literature and philosophy : the non-fiction writing of Naguib Mahfouz volume 1 / Naguib Mahfouz ; translated by Aran Byrne ; introduction by Rasheed El-Enany.

Originally published in Arabic as Hawla l-Adab wa-l-Falsafa. Copyright ©2015 Dar Al Masriah Al Lubnaniah, Cairo.

Includes bibliographical references.

"Naguib Mahfouz is one of the most important writers in contemporary Arabic literature. Winner of the Nobel Prize in 1988 (the only Arab writer to win the prize thus far), his novels helped bring Arabic literature onto the international stage. Far fewer people know his nonfiction works, however--a gap that this book fills. Bringing together Mahfouz's early nonfiction writings (most penned during the 1930s) which have not previously been available in English, this volume offers a rare glimpse into the early development of the renowned author. As these pieces show, Mahfouz was deeply interested in literature and philosophy, and his early writings engage with the origins of philosophy, its development and place in the history of thought, as well its meaning writ large. In his literary essays, he discusses a wide range of authors, from Anton Chekov to his own Arab contemporaries like Taha Hussein. He also ventures into a host of important contemporary issues, including science and modernity, the growing movement for women's rights in the Arab world, and emerging ideologies like socialism--all of which outline the growing challenges to traditional modes of living that we saw all around him. Together, these essays offer a fascinating window not just into the mind of Mahfouz himself but the changing landscape of Egypt during that time, from the development of Islam to the struggles between tradition, modernity, and the influences of the West."--Publisher's description.

The demise of old beliefs and the emergence of new ones -- Women and public office -- The development of philosophy in the pre-Socratic era -- The philosophy of Socrates -- Plato and his philosophy -- Anton Chekhov (the Russian author) -- Three of our writers -- Love and the sexual impulse -- Philosophy according to the philosophers -- What is the meaning of philosophy? -- Psychology : its trends and methods, ancient and modern -- Animal life and psychology -- The senses and sensory perception -- Consciousness -- Theories of the mind -- Language -- Art and culture -- I have read -- Of art and history -- Concerning the book Artistic Imageri in the Qur'an.

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