A theoretical analysis of the history of 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. Organized topically rather than historically, this book provides an excellent introduction to the subject of african philosophy. This paper attempts to show the existence of a unique philosophy that deserves to be recognized and rightly known as african philosophy.
Project muse african philosophy and thought systems. Steve kquofi andpeace amate from the university of science and technology in kumasi, ghana, carried out a study. Current trends and perspectives in african philosophy a. African diasporic consciousness in the afroarabic world of the middle ages. 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. In other words, african philosophy has gone beyond the debate on its existence or reality and is practically demarcated from myth. Ethnophilosophy examines the systems of thought of existing and precolonial african. The paper analyzes the nature, objectives and trends of african social and political. A kenyan philosopher surveys themes and debates in african philosophy over.
Read the fulltext online edition of african philosophy in search of identity 1994. Odera orukas four trends in african philosophy and their implications for education in africa oswell hapanyengwichemhuru thought and practice. This is my attempt to compile a fairly comprehensive discussion of philosophy s importance. Orient, berlin, germany for providing me with research documents on afri canintercultural.
The first four are the generally well known and well explained schools of african philosophy. The african philosophy reader peace palace library. African philosophy and the future of africa st augustine college of south africa, october 2007. An annotated bibliography of the recent studies on african philosophy. 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. A deeper analysis of them reveals the idea that there are generally two radi cally distinct senses or usages of the expression african philosophy. Tilburg university philosophic sagacity and intercultural philosophy. Odera orukas four trends in african philosophy and their implications for education in africa oswell hapanyengwichemhuru department of educational foundations university of zimbabwe zimbabwe. On the existence and nonexistence of african philosophy. The political and social thought of kwame nkrumah by ama biney. The concept of person in african and chinese philosophies. 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. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. The philosophical paradigm of african identity and development.
Jan 17, 2017 african philosophy and thought systems. View notes orukafour trends in current african philosophy. Globalization is seen positively by those to whose societies it brings measurable benefits. He argues that much of modern africana thought emerged out of. Bello is a senior lecturer in philosophy at the university of ibadan. An introduction to africana philosophy in this book lewis r. Department of philosophy and religious studies, kogi state university anyigba, nigeria. Odera oruka, four trends in current african philosophy. What is here called crosscultural understanding is itself a kind of compara. Claude ake, one of the most outstanding african thinkers of the second half of the 20th century and a great advocate for constructing democracy in africa, primarily viewed the progress of globalization in terms of its numerous dangers. Reflective action involves an identification of major problems on the african continent. Nkrumah, kwame, 19091972political and social views. In this method, african philosophy is conceived as a joint venture and product of both the ancient traditional, as well as modern african philosophers.
Africana philosophy stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. Key words trends in african philosophy, philosophy of education, henry odera oruka 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. Pdf the nature and praxis of african philosophy researchgate. Moyounotsva marava1 abstract in general, the concept of time in africa has been researched on in a number of perspectives. Ebscohost serves thousands of libraries with premium essays, articles and other content including odera orukas four trends in african philosophy and their implications for education in africa. On the one hand, readers are introduced to various trends as distinguished by different. 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. Sep 24, 2017 proverbs in africa are wise philosophical expressions, generally short and sometimes very funny, yet the messages they carry are deep. African philosophy and the future of africa 3 in both this paper and in the fuller book length treatment eze tries to discern the roots of diversity in the very nature of the mind itself. 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. Quizlet flashcards, activities and games help you improve your grades. 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. Feminism has a long and varied history in western thinking, but its place in african philosophy has been largely neglected in the literature. African philosophy on the concept of time and its influence on the view of death and afterlife a zimbabwean perspective j.
Oswell hapanyengwichemhuru, odera orukas four trends in. Teaching 10 weeks teaching with 3 contact hours per week 2 hours lecture and 1 hour tutorial. In the reading by irele views on african philosophy in francophone africa get attention. Africa by which we shall mean africa south of the sahara. This becomes even more apparent when one considers that the arguments that have been profferred against the existence of african philosophy have also been deployed to deny the existence of african. Blackwell companion to african philosophy edited by kwasi wiredu the african philosophy reader, ed by coetzee and roux routledge 1998 lee browns forthcoming anthology on traditional african philosophical thought, to be published by oxford univ.
Barry hallen is of the opinion that since philosophy is not a science, philosophers are not out to prove things true or false. It is intended to be used with a textbook it was written for published in 2002 under oxford university press as philosophy from africa. Philosophy and studies, coeditor of quest, african philosophy and africana philosophy. The specific concept of narrative in african philosophy and its value for crosscultural understanding will surface often and be developed in several ways throughout the book. Whereas the pioneer african philosophers disputed one another on metaphilosophical issues about african philosophy, their successors, in their bid to give a novel response to those problems, end. The word ubuntu is derived from a nguni isizulu aphorism. 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.
This a 2007 version of a study guide the unisa philosophy dept has used to introduce to students since 2007. While ubuntu fosters communalism, there is an individualistic notion that is supported by the current push towards creating a global workforce venter, 2004. Oruka 1990a identifies four main trends in contemporary african philosophy. Feb 10, 2015 there is no such thing as african philosophy. The african ubuntu philosophy a person is a person through other persons. Pdf odera orukas four trends in african philosophy and. This book provides an excellent orientation to, and a logical development of, the major trends and issues that have dominated discussions in african philosophy since the publication of placide tempels bantu philosophy in 1945. Odera orukas four trends in african philosophy and. Oduor discusses an overview of african philosophy and its founding works. Traditional african philosophy, ancient chinese philosophy, communalism, confucianism, person 1. In one sense, african phi losophy is explained or defined in opposition to philosophy in other continents but in particular to western or european philosophy. Pdf introduction to african philosophy study guide. It is accessible and handy to a wider range of readers, ranging from educators and students of african philosophy, anthropology, african studies, cultural studies, and all those concerned with the further development of african philosophy and thought systems on the african continent.
Subsequently we shall be in a position to define african philosophy by looking at the origin of the debate. Oruka, henry odera 1990a trends in contemporary african philosophy. An introduction to african philosophy samuel oluoch imbo. Mkabela 1997 as cited by venter 2004 is right in advocating an african philosophy. Whats new in african philosophy issue 28 philosophy now. 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. Understanding of african philosophy through philosophy for. Samuel oluoch imbo synthesizes the ideas of key african philosophers into an accessible narrative. Jul 22, 2014 however, african philosophy has come to stay. A journal of the philosophical association of kenya 5. The paper concentrates on its panoramic presentation, evoking main trends and suggesting new debates and challenges. According to ubuntu, there exists a common bond between all human beings. Novel speculation, cogent argumentation and conceptual analysis are the centres of interest of philosophers.
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. In the last four decades, there has been a lively debate regarding the nature and status of african philosophy. Berlin, germany for providing me with research documents on africanintercultural philosophy. Pdf from llb pls1502 at university of south africa. Oruka 1990a identifies four trends in current african philosophy. African philosophy is the philosophical discourse produced by indigenous africans and their descendants, including african americans.
African philosophy is an attempt by philosophers to make the folklores, myth, sooth sayings, religion, education, socio political organizations and other aspects of the african culture relevant to. Odera orukas four trends in african philosophy and their. This text includes 25 readings from african thinkers such as biko, appiah, wiredu, sogolo gyekye and senghor. Introduction the past three or more decades have witnessed a deluge of works on the twin quest to know whether african philosophy exists and what its nature consists of. Introduction over the years, works in african and oriental philosophies have had to contend for recognition as authentic philosophy in the face of the biased eurocentric. 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. An african student of philosophy who takes a course in african philosophy for the first time may be shocked by the fact that an extensive amount of literature on african philosophy is devoted to the polemic surrounding the issue of the existence and essence of african philosophy. African philosophers may be found in the various academic fields of philosophy, such as metaphysics, epistemology, moral philosophy, and political philosophy. Definition of african philosophy essay pls1502 unisa. Odera orukas four trends in african philosophy and their implications for education in africa 41 reflections on the four trends in african philosophy to shed light on education in africa. This is the task that this paper sets to investigate and evaluate. Orukas methodology is otherwise known as the conversation method in african philosophy that approach which subscribes to the interview, discussion and dialogue. Isbn 505069 this monograph is a theoretical investigation of the process of the history of philosophy. African philosophy has been challenged by development of global economies.
There is philosophy, perhaps performed by an african, or anyone else. Ngabantu, which can be translated as a person is a person. African sage philosophy stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. He was born in bibiani, ghana, of nigerian parentage.
African philosophy general the basics of philosophy. If they do, what differentiates it from metaphysics of other continents. Ethnophilosophy, african routledge encyclopedia of. The meaning and nature of african philosophy in a globalising. His publications include beauty and culture and numerous articles. The readers are thus drawn into a wideranging discussion of what african philosophy is and how it relates to colonialism and western philosophy. We would not know how to think, or walk, or speak, or. Key words trends in african philosophy, philosophy of education, henry odera oruka 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. The call for papers prior to the conference asked for presenters that were a passionate about philosophy and b passionate about africa. African social and political philosophy is an important field of research.
African philosophy of education is action as it points to doing or enacting an activity with some morally worthwhile purpose or just action. In the latter view, african philosophy is any philosophy produced by africans or by people of african descent, and others engaged in critiques or analysis of their works. We would not know how to think, or walk, or speak, or behave as human beings unless we learned it from other human beings. African philosophy on the concept of time and its influence. The book can be used as an introduction for students coming to african philosophy for the first time and and should be of interest to those studying literature, religion, anthropology and philosophy courses. 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. Since the independence, most african countries have adopted educational systems that are identical to those of the colonial masters, thus rejecting and denying the importance of local and indigenous. It is accessible and handy to a wider range of readers, ranging from educators and students of african philosophy, anthropology, african studies, cultural studies, and all those concerned with the further development of african philosophy and thought systems on the african. It shows the existence of african logic using examples from two nigerdelta societies.