A Moral-Philosophical Analysis of Selected Novels by Sibhat Gebre-Egziabher and Be’alu Girma

Dessalegn Seyoum
Addis Ababa University, College of Education and Behavioral Studies, Department of Amharic Language, Literature and FolkLore.

Ayele Fikre
Addis Ababa University, College of Education and Behavioral Studies, Department of Amharic Language, Literature and FolkLore.

Fasil Merawe
Addis Ababa University, College Social Science, Arts and Humanities, Department of Philosophy.

Abstract

The contemporary period is marked by the persistent emergence of moral questions that shape everyday human conduct. From the moment individuals leave their homes until they reach their workplaces, educational institutions, or places of worship, they engage in actions that raise fundamental concerns of moral philosophy. During these activities, individuals evaluate values, exercise moral judgment, and confront ethical dilemmas that require decision-making or deliberate restraint. Consequently, moral philosophy has attracted increasing scholarly attention. Literature constitutes one of the principal artistic domains through which moral philosophy is articulated, interrogated, and critically examined. Although Sibhat Gebre-Egziabher and Be’alu Girma were contemporaries and maintained a close personal relationship, no prior scholarly study has been identified that systematically examines their works in parallel with a view to analyzing their moral perspectives. This absence of comparative analysis provides the primary impetus for the present study. The study examines four purposively selected novels—The Sebategnaw melak (Seventh Angel) and Tikusat (Heat) by Sibhat Gebre-Egziabher, and Yehilina Dwol (Conscience Bell) and Hadis by Be’alu Girma. Its central objective is to analyze the moral ideas articulated in these works within the framework of normative (prescriptive) ethics. The findings of the study reveal that the two authors adopt fundamentally contrasting moral orientations. Sibhat Gebre-Egziabher’s novels reflect an ethical egoist perspective that prioritizes individual happiness and self-interest. In contrast, Be’alu Girma’s novels articulate an altruistic moral framework that emphasizes individual self-sacrifice as a means of securing the well-being and happiness of the broader community.

Keywords: normative ethics, altruism, egoism