Ethnophilosophys most immediate african antecedents include leopold senghors philosophy of negritude and the writings of the belgian missionary to the congo later zaire, placide tempels. One particular subject that many african philosophers have written about is that on the subject of. At the university, henry odera oruka 19441995 popularized the term sage philosophy project, and closely related terms such as philosophic sagacity, both by initiating a project of interviewing african sages, and by naming this project in. I examine and reject some claims to the effect that philosophy in africa is or ought to be a unique enterprise in which the practitioners of philosophy and others only need to compile chronicles of folkmythical beliefs. African philosophical values and constitutionalism. Indeterminancy, ethnophilosophy, linguistic philosophy, african.
The term ethnophilosophy was first used by kwame nkrumah and was. An example of ethnophilosophy is african philosophy. The university of south africa has generously funded the manuscript preparation of the first and the second editions. Paulin hountondji on philosophy and decolonisation. On a general note, the thrust or focus of this paper is an attempt at identifying the nature of african philosophy.
Perverse and necessary dialogues in african philosophy by jennifer lisa. Introduction to african philosophy pls1502 unisa studocu. The ethno african, is identified by nature, origin, birth, ancestry, tribe, physiology, colour and culture the geotemporal african. By using oral stories, poetry, songs, legends and proverbs, for example, as sources of knowledge one examines the consequences of such knowledge for. Presbey is an associate professor of philosophy at university of detroit mercy. 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. The ubuntu optimises the african philosophy of respect and human dignity that is fundamental to being able to transcend ethnic divisions by working together and respecting each other english, 2002. And consequently, there have been several answers, rejoinders. There are significant challenges to the viability of the concept. Through the employment of the analytic method of ordinary language philosophy, this essay explicates the view that the counterinstances exploited by edmund gettier. African philosophers may be found in the various academic fields of philosophy, such as metaphysics, epistemology, moral philosophy, and political philosophy. The essential readings paragon issues in philosophy by tsenay serequeberhan apr 1, 1998. Consequently, it utilizes interview, discussion and. Savitribai phule pune university, one of the premier.
In orukas method, african philosophy is conceived as a joint venture and product of both the ancient traditional and modern african philosophers. Masolo rooted in the 1940s, the debate on african ethnophilosophy foreshadowed and preempted what was to become a global debate, whose tenets have now brought the natural and social sciences close together. The study of ethnophilosophy aids africans to know that they are rational thinkers and are not inferior as. Ethno philosophy critique international journal of advanced. African philosophical products that draw on ethno philosophy while actively. Polemics on the definition of african philosophy idosi. Central to our thesis here is that philosophy is a product of an aesthetic consciousness and that those issues that are genuinely philosophical arise from the very pro.
In his new book, left universalism, africacentric essays, the ghanaian philosopher ato sekyiotu writes that against the fashionable particularism of our times hountondji is an unabashed adherent to. The meaning of ubuntu in african philosophy free essay example. While drawing out critical issues in the formation of african philosophy, barry hallen focuses on recent scholarship and relevant debates that have made african philosophy critical to understanding the rich and complex cultural heritage of. For many years african philosophy has not been taken seriously by both african philosophers and western philosophers alike. Ethno philosophy is outrightly considered as pseudo or debased philosophy. A short history of african philosophy discusses major ideas, figures, and schools of thought in philosophy in the african context. Understanding of african philosophy through philosophy for. The history of mrican philosophy is a history of two contesting parties. The sense in which ethnophilosophy can remain relevant in. How an african philosophy can inspire racial healing in america. The first four are the generally well known and well explained schools of african philosophy. Unit 1 essay africanity of african philosophy studocu. African philosophy that is equivalent to the ancient and. Ethno philosophy if one presupposes that in philosophy the african conception and contribution have a.
Pdf the sense in which ethnophilosophy can remain relevant. Ethnophilosophy, african routledge encyclopedia of. African philosophy, the status and value of ethnophilosophy, and the position of placide. The concept ubuntu is a focal point in african philosophy, which cannot just be reduced to tradition practices. Ethnophilosophy is based on the works of ethnographers, sociologists and anthropologists who interpret collective world views of african peoples, their myths and folklores as a constitutive part of african philosophy. According to osuagwu african historical reconstruction, vol 1. The first of these parties has come to be known as ethnophilosophy, the study of collective forms of culture as manifestations of mrican philosophical sys tems. The four trends of african philosophy introduced by oruka are. Mudimbe takes care to note that, contrary to other african scholars notably paulin hountondji and marcian towa, he does not employ ethno philosophy as a prejorative characterization. African philosophy begins with wondering at the nature of the universe, like any other form of philosophy, for instance, the stars, oceans, birds, life, death, growth and decay, etc.
But much of what is attributable to this group is hermeneutical, for example, nyereres ujamaa is an interpretation of traditional african notion of extended family system. African philosophy enables one to enquire about the importance of tradition and the values they equip an individual with. Introduction what does it require to know so and so. The nature of philosophy philosophy is from two greek words. An explanation of the only surviving, precolonial, written, subsaharan african philosophy texts, the treatise of zara yacob and the treatise of walda heywat. Ethnophilosophy is the study of indigenous philosophical systems. The four philosophical trends identified by oruka are, thus. Similarly, senghors negritude and nkrumahs consciencism are. Hountondji who viewed it as a combination of ethnography and philosophy.
Ethnophilosophy examines the systems of thought of existing and precolonial african communities in order to determine what can be the ideal forms of. Pdf ethno philosophy, as a philosophical project, has had its fair share of criticism from some professional african philosophers, with paulin. The sage philosophy project began in the mid1970s at the department of philosophy of the university of nairobi kenya. Konrad adenauer foundation, 2002 and the philosophical quest. African sage philosophy internet encyclopedia of philosophy. Bello is a senior lecturer in philosophy at the university of ibadan. It would further enquire into the factors that stimulated the debate on african philosophy, the universality of philosophy and the philosophiness of african philosophy. C affirms exhibits a tendency to treat cultural issues as philosophical issues. Thus, whole of philosophy cannot not be reduced to ethno philosophy.
Abstract i examine wiredus views that 1 ethnophilosophy cannot be considered a legitimate philosophy because it has the feature of authoritarianism, and that 2 this feature of african tradition will not allow modern philosophy to flourish because it prevents individuals. Mediated by philosophers skepticism toward objectivism also called. 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. Africanity of african philosophy according to osuagwu african historical reconstruction, vol 1. By recent this means mostly the postworld war ii period, though some of the background to these critical developments extend. Thus, it raises questions on what it entails for a given idea to be termed african philosophy. Two works by nyerere 1968a, 1968b reveal that these political accounts share with other works of ethnophilosophy the thesis that the central values of africa are. He formulated the four trends of african philosophy ethno philosophy, philosophic sagacity or sage philosophy, nationalistideological philosophy and critical or professional philosophy. This a 2007 version of a study guide the unisa philosophy dept has used to introduce to students since 2007. But first, i show that there is a relationship between philosophy and african philosophy.
Representative authors in this category are tempels, senghor, mbiti and kagame. This category qualifies an african space and time within the african philosophy typically occurring. African philosophy in our time 1 part i history 29 1 egypt. In other words, what makes philosophy african is a variety of factors. The term ethnophilosophy was given an inferior meaning such as. She is coeditor of two books, thought and practice in african philosophy nairobi.
Especially the black african manual labourers thought of having nothing between their. African philosophy is or could be, namely, ethno philosophy, philosophic sagacity, nationalisticideological philosophy, professional philosophy, hermeneutic philosophy, and artistic or literary philosophy. She is a former fulbright senior scholar at university of nairobi 19982000. Atissue african philosophy and the lingering question of. Having accused ethno philosophy as presenting folk ideas as african philosophy. Paulin hountondji, the beninese philosopher, is best known for african philosophy. This paper examines the implications and challenges of odera orukas conversation approach to the study of contemporary african philosophy as enunciated in his philosophic sagacity.
Philosophy african is a variety of factors, osuagwu then identifies four factors. Ethnophilosophy english definition, grammar, pronunciation. Africana philosophy stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. African philosophy is the philosophical discourse produced by indigenous africans and their descendants, including african americans. For him, african philosophy has been dispara ged and downgraded for. Odera orukas four trends in african philosophy and their. Pdf introduction to african philosophy study guide. His publications include beauty and culture and numerous articles. Philosophy and studies, coeditor of quest, african philosophy and africana philosophy. These factors of africanity refer to a set of members. African studies through languagebased ndubuisi osuagwu, ph.
Module pls1502 year of publication 2002 philosophy from. Ethnophilosophy examines the systems of thought of existing and precolonial african communities in order to determine what can be the ideal forms of authentic african philosophy and praxis in the emerging postcolonial situation. This video looks at the tradition of ethnophilosophy often used for developing african philosophies based in leopold sedar senghors work on negritude, inclu. The meaning and nature of african philosophy in a globalising. These trends are significant in that they illustrate that there is more to african philosophy than traditions and cultures or even a. I assert that the equation of ethno philosophy with substantive african philosophy will lead to the emergence of an impoverished african philosophical tradition, notwithstanding the desirability of a unique. People who truly practise ubuntu are always open and make. Philosophy at the university of south africa has had with its efforts to advance the cause of african philosophy in south africa after the apartheid era. The implicit concept is that a specific culture can have a philosophy that is not applicable and accessible to all peoples and cultures in the world. The researchers argue that the works of oruka, as well as kenyan philosopher, john s. African philosophy is a technique to adjust ones life, which is focused on a western way of existence. Ethnophilosophy, african routledge encyclopedia of philosophy. The second, now known as african philosophy, argues that philosophical. These trends are significant in that they illustrate that there is more to african philosophy than traditions and cultures or even a worldviews such as ubuntu.
Myth and reality, first published in french in 1976 and now considered a classic text in philosophy. The term ethnophilosophy was first used by kwame nkrumah and was coined by paulin j. The emergence of african philosophy has put many scholarsphilosophers in hot discussions. African sage philosophy stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. Masolo 3 precolonial african philosophy in arabic 66 souleymane bachir diagne 4 some nineteenthcentury african political thinkers 78 pieter boele van hensbroek.
African philosophers who developed philosophy out of worldviews of african communities. Ethno philosophy if one presupposes that in philosophy the african conception and contribution have a completely different nature from those of other. Views of some of the bestknown african philosophers, such as kwasi wiredu, paulin hountondji, h. African philosophy, african values, post colonialism, ethno philosophy. He writes in defense of ethnophilosophy and in response to. 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. African sage philosophy first published tue feb 14, 2006 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. In this article, i contend that philosophical reactions against ethno philosophy. Despite his sympathy for orukas work and his attempts to find philosophical rigor in the teachings of the sages, bodunrin ulti mately argues that both ethno.
Ethno philosophy of education draws on sources of knowledge such as customs traditions, lifestyles, myths folklores, languages, beliefs, artefacts and histories of different african cultures. A short history of african philosophy peace palace library. The course is taught in term 1 and focuses on philosophy in africa that is expressed in european languages. History of african philosophy internet encyclopedia of. Gettier problem, jtb, ethnophilosophy, yoruba, knowledge. In this article, i contend that philosophical reactions against ethnophilosophy, especially the arguments by professional african philosophers such as paulin. Teaching 10 weeks teaching with 3 contact hours per week 2 hours lecture and 1 hour tutorial. The relevance of sagacious reasoning in africa philosophy. These trends confirm that african philosophy is more than traditions, culture or ubuntu.
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