Page 78 - STOLEN LEGACY By George G. M. James

This system of Ethics as has already been mentioned belonged to the Mystery System of Egypt,
which required Neophytes in preparation for initiation, to keep the following ten commandments,
underlying which were ten principles of virtue:

The Neophyte must (I) control his thoughts (II) control his actions (III) have devotion of purpose
(IV) have faith in the ability of his master to teach him the truth (V) have faith in himself to
assimilate the truth (VI) have faith in himself to wield the truth (VII) be free from resentment
under the experience of persecution (VIII) be free from resentment under experience of wrong,
(IX) cultivate the ability to distinguish between right and wrong and (X) cultivate the ability to
distinguish between the real and the unreal (he must have a sense of values).

If we now compare the order in the above outline with the order in which the cardinal virtues are
said to be arranged, we shall immediately see that the first place which wisdom occupies among
the virtues was given to it by the Egyptian Mysteries, and not by Plato. Consequently in (I) and
(II) from the control of thoughts and actions, we derive the virtue of wisdom; in (VI) from
freedom of resentment under persecution, we derive the virtue of fortitude; in (IX) and (X) from
an ability to distinguish between right and wrong, and between the real and unreal, we derive the
virtues of justice and temperance. (Plato's Republic, c. IV, 44, and 443). (Ancient Mysteries by
C. H. Vail, p. 25 also 109–112). (Wm. Turner's History of Philosophy, p. 115). (Zeller's History
of Philosophy, p. 155–157).

V. (A) The doctrine of the Ideal State.

Concerning the authorship and source of this doctrine, there are two conclusions: First, Plato was
not the author of the Republic and second, the allegory of the charioteer and winged steeds, is
not a product of Plato, but is derived from the Egyptian Book of the Dead, in the Judgment
Drama.

Concerning the first conclusion it is only necessary to reaffirm what has already been stated in
connection with the writings of Plato, and that is that they are disputed not only by such modern
scholars as Grote and Schaarsmidt, but also by ancient historians: Diogenes Laertius,
Aristoxenus and Favorinus (80–150 A.D.), who declare that the subject matter of the Republic
was found in the controversies written by Protagoras (481–411 B.C.) at the time of whose death
Plato was but a boy.

Furthermore, the authorship of Plato rests only upon the opinions of Aristotle and Theophrastus,
both of whose aims were the compilation of a Greek philosophy with Egyptian material.
(Diogenes Laertius, p. 311 and 327; Aristotle Metaphysics Bk. I). (Zeller's History of
Philosophy; Introduction, p. 8 and 13; Wm. Turner's History of Philosophy, p. 95).

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Stolen Legacy: Greek Philosophy is Stolen Egyptian Philosophy by George G. M. James
The Journal of Pan African Studies 2009 eBook