African philosophers may be found in the various academic fields of philosophy, such as metaphysics, epistemology, moral philosophy, and political philosophy. The next section entitled from ethnophilosophy to postethnophilosophy is an attempt to examine how discourses of ethnophilosophy in and of themselves create conditions necessary to call for a postethnophilosophical turn in african philosophy. Hence mere descriptive accounts of african thought system. According to this school, criticism and argument are essential characteristics of anything which is to pass as philosophy. For example when we do philosophy of religion or philosophy of science, such as medicine, it is usually clear that we do not call what we do repentance or surgery. Pdf an essay concerning the foundational myth of ethnophilosophy. In the reading by irele views on african philosophy in francophone africa get attention. 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.
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. A paper discussed at the alraesa annual conference, imperial resort beach hotel, entebbe, 4th 8th september, 2005. What are the main characteristics of african philosophy. 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. The sage philosophy project began in the mid1970s at the department of philosophy of the university of nairobi kenya. African philosophy as ethnophilosophy one of the principal sources of african ethnophilosophy was the french philosopher lucien levybruhl 1857 1939. 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. On the other hand, there were those who believed that every philosophy is in some significant way an expression of the culture that produces it. The theoretical framework that informs this paper is that of ethnophilosophy as it relates to africa. Despite their diversity and remoteness, and the sheer geographic distances between these groups, they are seen to share not only. The first approach, ethnophilosophy, represents the worldviews, folklore, folk wisdoms, myths, and beliefs of certain african groups of people. The article explores the criteria that distinguish kenyan philosopher henry odera orukas sage philosophy from ethnophilosophy and make it a unique approach within african philosophy. Odera oruka, as based upon hountondjis unfair appreciation of africas indigenous cultural heritage.
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 as ethnophilosophy 25 peter lang. During this week, we will examine at least two approaches to african thinking and doing. This position, apart from meeting the stout criticisms and apathy of philosophers like david hume to metaphysics and metaphysical issues in general, would definitely be repudiated by the universalist philosophers who contend that philosophical and. According african culture african philosophy african religions african traditional african traditional religions afrocentricity aime cesaire analysis argues azande bantu philosophy beliefs called cesaire claim concept critical debate definition dialectical discourse dogon eboussiboulaga epistemological ethnophilosophy european evans. First, they display the deeply personal nature of the ideas, or opinions, that the sages. Characteristics and methods involved in ethnomethodological ethnography. Criteria that distinguish it from ethnophilosophy and make it a unique approach within african 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 from rationally and critically examining beliefs. In another essay popularly associated with his name, oruka identified four main trends to be constitutive of african philosophy, namely i african ethnophilosophy, ii african nationalistideological philosophy, iii professional african philosophy, and of course, iv. Bantu philosophy and that its fundamental categories are manifested in features. One particular subject that many african philosophers have written about is that on the subject of. History of african philosophy internet encyclopedia of.
In another essay popularly associated with his name, oruka identified four main trends to be constitutive of african philosophy, namely i african ethnophilosophy, ii african nationalistideological philosophy, iii professional african philosophy, and of course, iv the african sage philosophy under consideration here. Today, we will look at ethnophilosophy of education. Characteristics and methods involved in ethnomethodological. Department of philosophy and religious studies, kogi state university anyigba, nigeria.
But as with critical ethnophilosophy, what we would here wish to call african philosophy need not be located in the practices we are studying. Outlaw see the reading by him mentions other suggested classifications. African sage philosophy internet encyclopedia of philosophy. Odhiambo revised philosophic sagacity aims and functions 1. The late kenyan philosopher, henry odera oruka, identified six schools of thought on what african philosophy is or could be, namely, ethnophilosophy, philosophic sagacity, nationalisticideological philosophy, professional philosophy, hermeneutic philosophy, and artistic or literary philosophy. Views of some of the bestknown african philosophers, such as kwasi wiredu, paulin hountondji, h. Ethnophilosophy is the study of indigenous philosophical systems. African philosophy general the basics of philosophy. 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 obvious that the exponents of ethnophilosophy were taking advantage of the convoluted character of the idea of philosophy itself, confusing the two related but separable orders of the discourse. 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. Ethnophilosophy, as a philosophical project, has had its fair share of criticism. Ethnophilosophy, african routledge encyclopedia of philosophy. The meaning of the term ethnophilosophy has evolved in both a significant and controversial variety of ways since it was first introduced by paulin hountondji in 1970.
Africana philosophy stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. The african philosophy reader peace palace library. 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. 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. One of the implicit assumptions of ethnophilosophy is that a specific culture can have a philosophy that is not applicable and accessible to all peoples and cultures in the world, however this. Ths argues that the fundamental assumptions about reality are reflected in the languages of africa. This view is held by placide tempels 1959 who explicitly argues that the.
An example of ethnophilosophy is 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. African philosophy is the philosophical discourse produced by indigenous africans and their descendants, including african americans. Ethnophilosophy, comparative philosophy, pragmatism. In important as well as strategic respects, the interests and claims of these two elds undermine and even contradict the notion of an african philoso phy arising from the subcontinents indigenous cultures. Kwame anthony appiah, ethnophilosophy and its critics. Quizlet flashcards, activities and games help you improve your grades. According to presbey 2007, paulin hountondji 1970 in his critique of african ethnophilosophy urges philosophers to produce works in which africans addressed each other or focused on topics of. I use the term african to refer to scholarship that is specically concerned with the african continent and its cultures. I count myself very privileged to participate in this important annual conference of experts and professionals and to share ideas on the link between law and public. Oyeshile and others published on defining african philosophy. African sage philosophy stanford encyclopedia of philosophy.
Levybruhl taught at the sorbonne from 1896 to 1927 and was one of the leading ethnologists of his era. Education on the african continent, like virtually all social interaction, was traditionally characterized by the bounds and bonds of comparatively smallscale ethnic communities. She is a former fulbright senior scholar at university of nairobi 19982000. I will also describe the main characteristics of ethnomethodological ethnography. In recently published works we also witnessed arguments. While the second is branded as philosophic sagacity, the third trend is nationalistideological philosophy.
It is not easy to indicate with absolute precision what marks off modern philosophy from its predecessors, classical, medieval and renaissance philosophy. 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. 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. Hountondji accuses oruka of working with an unacceptable definition of african philosophy and in. It was first challenged by the kenyan philosopher, h. In this essay, i will write about ethnomethodological ethnography and the steps involved in conducting such method. This position, apart from meeting the stout criticisms and apathy of philosophers like david hume to metaphysics and metaphysical issues in general, would definitely be repudiated by the universalist philosophers who contend that philosophical and metaphysical issues should have and make universal appeal. The term ethno philosophy was first used by kwame nkrumah and was.
From these examples some of the distinguishing characteristics of sage philosophy can be gleaned. This is a body of materials combining marxist social and economic theories with negritudes politics of difference. The meaning of the term ethnophilosophy has evolved in both a significant and. Ethnophilosophy, unanimity and african critical thought.
A hermeneutic enthused by ubuntu bhele ndikhokele mtshiselwa university of south africa abstract african philosophy is a recognised field both in the old testament and philosophy studies in africa. Critic didier kaphagawani, in a 1987 article reprinted in sage philosophy, charged sage philosophy with being parasitic on ethnophilosophy, insofar as philosophic sages practiced secondorder reflection and analysis of firstorder ethnophilosophy kaphagawani in oruka sage 1991 ed. Creatively coping with negative emotions gail presbey gail m. A short history of african philosophy peace palace library. For the sophists, it would be questioning the foundations of traditional religion, morality and. The main characteristics of ethnomethodological ethnography consist of the presence of taken for granted assumptions, commonsense knowledge and procedures, typification, indexicality, accounting, reflexivity. In an attempt to expound what african philosophy consists in oruka 1991 distinguishes four trends. The author emphasizes that sage philosophy is both philosophical and interdisciplinary, in that it also makes use of the methods of the oral historian and social. The typical view focuses on the shift from epistemology to m etaphysics. 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, being their cosmogony sistem a fhilosophy in itself.
Take for example the thesis that africas indigenous cultures are essentially traditional in character. Philosophy to them is a universal discipline that has the same meaning in all. Ethnophilosophy is thus a specialized and wholly customs dictated philosophy that requires a communal consensus. By using oral stories, poetry, songs, legends and proverbs, for example, as sources of knowledge one examines the consequences of such knowledge for. Africana is a more inclusive term for scholarship related to both africa and the diaspora. Ethnophilosophy, african routledge encyclopedia of. African sage philosophy is the name now commonly given to the body of thought produced. 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. History, challenges and perspectives find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. Etymologically, philosophy can be broken into the following roots and examples. Pdf ethnophilosophy, comparative philosophy, pragmatism. The second chapter outlines the concept of person in african philosophy. The significance of philosophic sagacity in 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. The term ethnophilosophy was coined by paulin hountondji to refer to the works of those anthropologists, sociologists, ethnographers and philosophers who present collective philosophies of life of african peoples. Ethnophilosophy, unanimity, and african critical thought 84. Sage philosophy is a body of knowledge attributed to wise men and women in communities and is regarded to be philosophically significant for both its content and its critical approach to the sustenance and growth of knowledge at the communal level.
Some general comments about the nature of philosophy can be summarized from the previous tutorial. Presbey is an associate professor of philosophy at university of detroit mercy. The meaning and nature of african philosophy in a globalising. Most of the literature on ethnophilosophy is written about african cultures. In a bid to find solution to these quests, our author offers two basic approaches, thus.
Odera orukas four trends in african philosophy and their. Ethnophilosophy refers to bodies of belief and knowledge that have philosophical relevance and which can be redescribed in terms drawn from academic philosophy, but which have not been consciously formulated as philosophy by philosophers. The african philosophy reader peace palace library, the. Ethnophilosophy treats african philosophy as consisting in a set of shared beliefs, values, categories and assumptions that are implicit in the language, practices and beliefs of african cultures or the uniquely african world view. 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. 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. Ethnophilosophy examines the systems of thought of existing and precolonial african communities in order to determine what can be the ideal forms of. Pdf ethnophilosophy, although glorified by some african. 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 readers are thus drawn into a wideranging discussion of what african philosophy is and how it relates to colonialism and western philosophy.
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