The Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation hosted two book signing ceremonies for “The Question of Ethics in the Modernity Project” by Dr. Ahmed Zayed, and poetry collection “In the Interpretation of the Negation of Something” by poet Sawsan Dahneem, at its Stand at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF) on Thursday, May 2, 2024.
The two ceremonies were graced by a gathering of intellectuals, among whom were Dr. Ahmed Al Bahi, Chairman of the Egyptian Central Book Authority, Egyptian author Yusuf Al Qa’id, Dr. Sami Suleiman, Syrian novelist Nabil Suleiman, publisher and writer Ali Al Shaali, publisher Khaled Al Nasiri, novelist Jalal Barjas, and other prominent intellectuals from the UAE and the Arab world.
Dr. Ahmed Zayed, recipient of the 17th edition of the Sultan bin Ali Al Owais Award for Humanities and Future Studies and Director of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina (Alexandria Library), noted that while the contemporary world engages in ethical discourse, particularly concerning human rights, women’s issues, advocacy, and climate change, practical application reveals a crisis and moral weakness in the Western model of modernity. He also highlighted the emergence of what is known as postmodern ethics, characterized by societal disintegration and a lack of social ties due to the prevalence of individualism.
Dr. Ahmed Zayed’s book, titled “The Question of Ethics in the Modernity Project: The Controversy of Presence and Absence,” has recently been released by the Al Owais Cultural Foundation as part of the “Winners” series. The Director of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina revealed that he commenced writing the book six years ago. It delves into the topic of ethics across 11 chapters, tracing its origins from the era of the pharaohs to the present day. The book explores various philosophical, political, and social perspectives, examining their successes, failures, and crises within modern society and its contemporary developments.
Ahmed Zayed signed numerous copies of his book for attendees, celebrating its intellectual and scholarly significance. Bahraini poet Sawsan Dahneem captivated the audience with readings from her poetry collection “In the Interpretation of the Negation of Something”.
Her recitations, which included selections of Tafila poetry and examples of prose poetry, were warmly received. The collection divided into three sections— “Before Departure,” “Between Two Waves,” and “A New Country”—spans 95 pages of medium-sized cut. Sawsan Dahneem concluded the event by signing several copies of her book, adding to the special atmosphere of poetry and literature.
