🏺Ptahhotep

c. 2400 BC · Ancient Near East · Prominent

Ptahhotep was a vizier of Egypt's Old Kingdom and the traditional author of the Maxims, among the oldest works of ethical instruction we have. They survive in Middle Kingdom copies and read as a father's advice to his son: live by ma'at, the order, truth and justice that hold the world up. The advice is practical. Prize honest speech, hold yourself in check, and let calm beat anger.

Signature

The position Ptahhotep is most identified with in the Profiler:

Nature

leans Harmony

Ethics Basis

Natural Law / Virtue

Positions on the 4 axes the sources answer

Order

leans Vertical (21 on a 0–100 scale from Vertical to Horizontal)

Opposition

leans Concurrence (75 on a 0–100 scale from Sublation to Concurrence)

Nature

leans Harmony (75 on a 0–100 scale from Mastery to Harmony)

Allegiance

leans Local (25 on a 0–100 scale from Local to Global)

16 of 20 axes are left blank: the sources do not answer them, or Ptahhotep refused the framing. Nothing is imputed; a blank is not a middling score.

Foundational questions

Theology

Polytheism / Henotheism
What is your position on the existence and nature of God or gods?

Government

Monarchy
What is your ideal form of government?

Highest Good

Harmony / Virtue
What is the highest good?

Good and Evil

Cosmic Dualism
What is the fundamental nature of good and evil?

Knowledge

Tradition
What is the ultimate foundation of knowledge?

Ethics Basis

Natural Law / Virtue
What is the ultimate basis of ethics?

Agency

Libertarian Free Will
What is the nature of human agency and freedom?

Authority

Divine Revelation / Sacred Tradition
What is the legitimate source of authority?

Language

Representation / Speech Act
What is the fundamental nature of language?

Law

Natural Law / Divine Law
What is the ultimate source of legitimate law?

Human Nature

Redeemably Corrupted
What is human nature?

Primary Bond

Family / Nation
What is your primary bond and loyalty?

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