A companion to african philosophy edited by kwasi wiredu. Bodunrin argues that the quest for african philosophy is an attempt to meet the challenges created by the colonial situa tion, the denigration of africans as. The result might be a philosophy which is, by definition, a proxy of western philosophy. African philosophy is the philosophical discourse produced by indigenous africans and their descendants, including african americans. My knowledge about african philosophy is limited to the south african concept of ubuntu, which is a teaching of interconnectedness. Journal of african philosophy, culture and religions 3 1. The meaning and nature of african philosophy in a globalising world international journal of humanities social sciences and education ijhsse page 88 philosophy would be nothing more than asking and offering rational explanations of the universe. African philosophy is the philosophical discourse produced by indigenous africans and their. The african ubuntu philosophy a person is a person through other persons. His publications include beauty and culture and numerous articles. Reflective action involves an identification of major problems on the african continent. He argues that much of modern africana thought emerged out of. African philosophy is a technique to adjust ones life, which is focused on a western way of existence. Aime cesaire, john mbiti, odera oruka, julius nyerere, leopold senghor, nnamdi azikiwe.
What are the main characteristics of african philosophy. Department of philosophy, national university of lesotho advice viriri is currently the chairperson and senior lecturer in the department of african languages and culture at midlands state university in zimbabwe. The meaning and nature of african philosophy in a globalising. Philosophy at the university of south africa has had with its efforts to. Several authors have provided useful introductions of ubuntu in the field of business ethics. A critical study of the major orientations in contemporary african philosophy. Mar 26, 2018 living in a country with free religion choice, in southamerica, i have had the chance to see african philosophy alive and moving in many religious centres.
Philosophy of education, philosophical reflection on the nature, aims, and problems of education. Understanding the essence of ubuntu the african philosophy. In a previous work, entitled african philosophy of education. African cosmology and the duality of western hegemony. Furthermore, it is the subjectmatter that determines its own methods anyanwu 1989, 5. It is a traditional african philosophy that offers us an understanding of ourselves in relation with the world. Furthermore the notion that africa is a continent on drift is a view point that seems to confine africa to a static position where it. How can african philosophy be sensitive to the traditional worldviews of african. On being human waghid, 2014, a defense is offered for the notion. An african philosophy of education offers a discourse to address the continents many problems.
The problem centres on whether or not african languages can be used in doing contemporary african philosophy, where doing means teaching, writing and researching. What really matters to anyanwu is the formulation of the problem. Development and the african philosophical debate ecommons. Africana philosophy stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. Student revolt, decolonisation and governance in south africa. However, implicit in the slogan is the notion that some problems are african problems which must be left to africans to solve. Areas covered range from political system types, political economies, and political cultures of diverse. Samuel oluoch imbo synthesizes the ideas of key african philosophers into an accessible narrative. We would not know how to think, or walk, or speak, or behave as human beings unless we learned it from other human beings. John murungi, an introduction to african legal philosophy. African philosophy and the method of ordinary language philosophy by gbenga fasiku department of philosophy obafemi awolowo university, ileife, nigeria.
Themes, issues and problems in african philosophy isaac. In this incisive, original exploration of the nature and future of african philosophy, paulin j. African philosophy distinguishable from nonafrican philosophical. The split of african philosophical thinking between the schools of ethnophilosophy and professional philosophy shows the involvement of philosophical issues in. The late kenyan philosopher, henry odera oruka, identified six schools of thought on what african philosophy is or could be, namely, ethno philosophy, philosophic sagacity, nationalisticideological philosophy, professional philosophy, hermeneutic philosophy, and artistic or literary philosophy.
African philosophy enables one to enquire about the importance of tradition and the values they equip an individual with. African philosophy of education is action as it points to doing or enacting an activity with some morally worthwhile purpose or just action. What are the disadvantages of african philosophy answers. In what way can the universalist view of philosophy help africans to modernize. The second chapter outlines the concept of person in african philosophy. Steve kquofi and peace amate from the university of science and technology in kumasi, ghana, carried out a study on the significance of akan proverbs. After these two europeans, africans began to attain maturation. African sage philosophy stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. Africana is a more inclusive term for scholarship related to both africa and the diaspora. African philosophy and the future of africa1 gerard walmsley the papers in this volume were all presented at a conference on african philosophy and the future of africa st augustine college of south africa, october 2007. An african philosophy of history for african unity. In any philosophical discussion the world knowledge occupies a very important, rather the central place. African philosophy and the challenge from hegemonic.
It presents the worldview, philosophical nature and foundation of african traditional religion. The african philosophy reader peace palace library. D faculty of arts department of philosophy university of uyo, uyo abstract. The course is taught in term 1 and focuses on philosophy in africa that is expressed in european languages. Proverbs in africa are wise philosophical expressions, generally short and sometimes very funny, yet the messages they carry are deep. African solutions for african problems has lately been the boast of the continent since it found its voice and some muscle to attempt to confront its problems. Problems and challenges of conversation method 71 several factors, like personal sensitivity and commitment to certain problems of experience. We are indeed blessed to have ezes wideranging and magnificent anthology. Part one, which is the introduction to african philosophy of education, and its entitled towards a framework of thinking. It brings together some of the most stimulating texts of african, african american, afrocaribbean, and black european philosophy. As an epistemological problem, it persists among the philosophers from the past down to the present. Odera orukas four trends in african philosophy and their. Firstly, ehtnic philosophy also defined as the philosophy of africa, consists of religious and moral beliefs and contains peoples view of life and the experience of.
Available literature and academic practice in african philosophy since the 1960s have largely featured discourses in the areas of origin, general meaning and nature of the discipline, with little attention given to specialized areas. In terms of books, works by the following authors, in addition to the names mentioned earlier, are readily available. Steve kquofi andpeace amate from the university of science and technology in kumasi, ghana, carried out a study. African sage philosophy is the name now commonly given to the body of thought produced by persons considered wise in african communities, and more specifically refers to those who seek a rational foundation for ideas and concepts used to describe and view the world by critically examining the justification of those ideas and concepts.
The concept ubuntu is a focal point in african philosophy, which cannot just be reduced to tradition practices. The dominant debate on the conceptual and theoretical purchase of the notion of african identity since the 1970s to the present 2016 has been between the essentialist and antiessentialist views of african. African philosophy in the twentieth century has not tended to cluster in schools, apart from those which trace their heritage back to the forms of philosophy brought by colonial powers or inculcated by the graduate schools of particular african philosophers. African philosophy instils decent values in people and teaches us to love our neighbours and that we have a duty towards them. Hountondji attacks a myth popularized by ethnophilosophers such as placide tempels and alexis kagame that there is an indigenous, collective african philosophy separate and distinct from the western philosophical tradition. A short history of african philosophy peace palace library. Ubuntu is based on acknowledgement of the environment, and the nonseparation of self and others. Africanafricana philosophy bibliography philpapers. In this respect it is like other areas of applied philosophy, such as the philosophy of law, the philosophy of science, and the philosophy of medicine. African indigenous education was a lifelong process of learning where by a person progressed through predetermined stages of life of graduation from cradle to grave. Oyeshile department of philosophy, university of ibadan, ibadan, nigeria introduction the definition of philosophy has remained a perennial philosophical problem and there is little agreement as to what it is.
The impact of african traditional religious beliefs and. In the following pages i have confined myself in the main to those problems of philosophy in regard to which i thought it possible to say something positive and constructive, since merely negative criticism seemed out of place. Prior to colonialism, african philosophies of education were localized to meet the immediate needs of the native community. In terms of reference works, the new routledge encyclopedia of philosophy has good entries on african philosophy. The once acrimonious debate on the existence of african philosophy has come of age, yet the need to cultivate a culture of belonging is more demanding now than ever before in many african societies. African diasporic consciousness in the afroarabic world of the middle ages. An introduction to african philosophy samuel oluoch imbo. Political instability in africa where the problem lies and. Bello is a senior lecturer in philosophy at the university of ibadan. Yet, as argued in the present article, authentic african philosophy. The african philosophy of ubuntu in south african education article pdf available in studies in philosophy and education 11.
Available literature and academic practice in african philosophy since the 1960s have largely featured discourses in the areas of origin, general meaning and nature of the discipline, with little attention given to. I use the term african to refer to scholarship that is specically concerned with the african continent and its cultures. The main objective of this paper is to examine african culture and values. African philosophy many of the greatest thinkers of the modern era, including david hume, immanuel kant, and thomas jefferson, considered africans and their descendants to be so intellectually handicapped as to make them philosophical invalids, incapable of moral and scientific reasoning. In the realm of philosophy, empiricism arises as one of the theories regarding the sources of knowledge. Liberation and postcolonial african philosophy 36 african humanism and socialism postcolonial african thought the question of race 4. What are the three advantages of using african philosophy. This implies that african indigenous education was continuous throughout lifetime from childhood to oldage mushi 2009 defines african indigenous education as a process of passing.
The impact of african traditional religious beliefs and cultural values on christian muslim relations in ghana from 1920 through the present. The south african studentworker uprisings in light of just war theory. It starts by attempting a common definition of the word person and proceeds to show that the concept of person in african thinking is taken to be in contradistinction to the western concept. It is intended to be used with a textbook it was written for published in 2002 under oxford university press as philosophy from africa. According to ubuntu, there exists a common bond between us all and it is through this bond, through our interaction with our fellow human beings, that we discover our own human qualities. The debate surrounding its existence is, as stated by kenyan philosopher masolo, defined by western discourse on africa and the african response 1. The book claims that african legal philosophy exists and is intelligible in the context of african culture, just as every other legal philosophy has its cultural foundation. Philosophy, a discipline as old as the human faculty of reason has its thrust on the good life for man. The second edition of this book is a celebration of the success that the department of. Organized topically rather than historically, this book provides an excellent introduction to the subject of african philosophy. This view is held by placide tempels 1959 who explicitly argues that the. May 28, 2017 the idea of an african philosophy is still controversial with many within academia denying its existence andor its possibility to exist.
A case study of nkusukumekumfienyan area of the central region. African philosophy is a disputed term, partly because it is not clear if it refers to philosophies with a specifically african theme or context such as distinctively african perceptions of time, personhood, etc. The african philosophy of ubuntu is typically characterised as a communitarian philosophy that emphasises virtues such as compassion, tolerance and harmony. The philosophy of education is janusfaced, looking both inward to the parent discipline of philosophy and outward to educational practice. A modern contemporary african philosopher by the name, tsenay serequeberhan teaching african philosophy at hampshire college once remarked that when he told students and the faculty there that he was teaching african philosophy, they were shocked and raised eyebrows by asking if such a thing like african philosophy ever existed at all. One particular subject that many african philosophers have written about is that on the subject of. Philosophy and studies, coeditor of quest, african philosophy and africana philosophy. This a 2007 version of a study guide the unisa philosophy dept has used to introduce to students since 2007. Major themes include african oral traditions, reactions to the depredations of colonialism and enslavement, political philosophy and philosophy of race developed in the twentieth century, and the emergence of africana thought within academia.
Africana philosophy history of philosophy without any gaps. African identity to theorize and imagine sociopolitical and cultural freedom of the formerly colonized. His research interests are in the areas of african literature, theatre, african philosophy, postcoloniality and feminism as theories. Teaching 10 weeks teaching with 3 contact hours per week 2 hours lecture and 1 hour tutorial. Free essays on disadvantages of african philosophy through. Submitted by francis acquah to the university of exeter as a thesis for the degree of doctor of philosophy in theology in december 2011. This volume provides the key to a deepened discourse on philosophy in africa. An introduction to african politics, this course will provide for its participants a general survey of the main issues regarding politics in the continent. Quizlet flashcards, activities and games help you improve your grades. Pdf introduction to african philosophy study guide. This paper examines the concept and philosophy of african traditional religion from the viewpoint of africans. History of african philosophy internet encyclopedia of philosophy.
For this reason, theory of knowledge occupies a larger space than metaphysics in the present volume, and some. Africana philosophy is the name for an emergent and still developing field of ideas and ideaspaces, intellectual endeavors, discourses, and discursive networks within and beyond academic philosophy that was recognized as such by national and international organizations of professional philosophers, including the american philosophical. What law is, how it is thought, how it is interpreted, and how it is applied takes place with thing the parameters of african culture. In recent years there has been growing interest in this philosophy, and in how it can be applied to a variety of disciplines and issues. The main problem that this paper is intended to advance is that africa is regarded by some people as having not had any form of. African philosophy general the basics of philosophy. With this criticism hountondji started an ongoing debate about the status of african philosophy, the status and value of ethnophilosophy, and the position of placide tempels in african philosophy. These include famine, hunger, poverty, abuse, violence and exclusion of the other.
The african worldview that informs an african philosophy of history is summed up in the concepts of dynamism, lifeforce, and muntumankind comprehending the dead, the living, and yet unborn. In discussing african culture and values, we are not presupposing that all african. The gargantuan indelible energised chicanery waves of neocolonialism and globalisation and their sweeping effect on africa demand more concerted. In south africa, the notion of an african philosophy of education emerged with the advent of postapartheid education and the call for an educational philosophy that would reflect this renewal, a focus on africa and its cultures, identities and values, and the new imperatives for education in a postcolonial and postapartheid era. The problem of language in contemporary african philosophy.
Africana philosophy is the name for an emergent and still developing field of ideas and ideaspaces, intellectual endeavors, discourses, and discursive networks within and beyond academic philosophy that was recognized as such by national and international organizations of professional philosophers, including the american philosophical association, starting in the 1980s. Themes, issues and problems in african philosophy isaac e. Again if an african had to do philosophy, especially philosophy of education he philosophy pathways issue 212 31st may 2017. The call for papers prior to the conference asked for presenters that were a passionate about philosophy and b. Community and justice 58 persons, individualism, and communalism suffering and injustice poverty and human development 5. Pdf the african philosophy of ubuntu in south african. It also shows that the worship of god in african traditional religion is through sacrifices, offerings, singing, dancing and prayers. It also revolves around the question of the extent to which words and concepts in use in traditions of philosophy outside africa can be translated into indigenous african. Its ambitious effort will serve well all those interested in african studies and students and specialists of philosophy in general. Free essays on disadvantages of african philosophy. An introduction to africana philosophy in this book lewis r. African philosophers may be found in the various academic fields of philosophy, such as metaphysics, epistemology, moral philosophy, and political philosophy.