An example of ethnophilosophy is african philosophy. African philosophy, for him, must be done in the same frame as western philosophy, including its principles, methodologies, methods and all. Problems and challenges of conversation method 71 several factors, like personal sensitivity and commitment to certain problems of experience. The six best books on african philosophy the daily idea. Ethnophilosophy, african routledge encyclopedia of philosophy. This is the term paulin hountondji used to refer to the works of those anthropologists, sociologists, ethnographers and philosophers who present the collective world views of african peoples, their. Pdf odera orukas four trends in african philosophy and. 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. African philosophical products that draw on ethnophilosophy while actively. Ethno philosophy sage philosophy nationalistideological philosophy professional philosophy african philosophy. African philosophy is or could be, namely, ethno philosophy, philosophic sagacity, nationalisticideological philosophy, professional philosophy, hermeneutic philosophy, and artistic or literary philosophy. So for instance, lucius outlaw rejects the claim that african philosophy has to be rational and argues that the concept of rationality as used in philosophy is a product of western culture. The chapter ends with a survey of recent work in african philosophy that is related to sage philosophy but departs from or goes beyond orukas methods or goals.
Module pls1502 year of publication 2002 philosophy from. History, challenges and perspectives find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. The category of professional philosophy as such may be questioned because it is a different kind of category from the others and too hospitable different approaches are put there in spite of radical differences. One great shortcoming of ethno philosophy is that it is derived not from the critical but the uncritical part of african philosophy. The article traces the development of the ideals of henry odera oruka, founder of sage philosophy in relation to african philosophy in africa. According to the author, osakas idea of sagacity can be delimited into three stages. Literacy and the oral tradition in sage philosophy. For the sophists, it would be questioning the foundations of traditional religion, morality and. The first four are the generally well known and well explained. 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 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.
Ethnophilosophy s most immediate african antecedents include leopold senghors philosophy of negritude and the writings of the belgian missionary to the congo later zaire, placide tempels. Samuel oluoch imbo synthesizes the ideas of key african philosophers into an accessible narrative. The meaning and nature of african philosophy in a globalising. She is a former fulbright senior scholar at university of nairobi 19982000. Oyeshile and others published on defining african philosophy. Can african philosophy be done in foreign languages such as english and french. One wonders why the doubt on the existence of african philosophy. Odhiambo revised philosophic sagacity aims and functions 1. Ethnophilosophy, african routledge encyclopedia of. Abanuka in his book, a history of african philosophy, responds that it is. A short history of african philosophy discusses major ideas, figures, and schools of thought in philosophy in the african context. 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. Oral tradition and literacy in philosophic sagacity 85.
The course is taught in term 1 and focuses on philosophy in africa that is expressed in european languages. 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. Compare and contrast any two orukas four trends in african philosophy. Definition of african philosophy introduction philosophy is derived from greek meaning love of wisdom he also corroborates osuagwu s factors on the africanity of. For instance, whereas the french and the few american anthropologists who worked in africa were attracted to african ethnophilosophy and expressive forms, the. What really matters to anyanwu is the formulation of the problem. Teaching 10 weeks teaching with 3 contact hours per week 2 hours lecture and 1 hour tutorial. 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. Furthermore, it is the subjectmatter that determines its own methods anyanwu 1989, 5. African philosophy is the philosophical discourse produced by indigenous africans and their descendants, including african americans. Ethnophilosophy, comparative philosophy, pragmatism. Having accused ethno philosophy as presenting folk ideas as african philosophy. 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.
Nov 2016 and jun 2016 10 marks answer from the exam pack. 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. Many readers and anthologies, introductions, and other paedagogical publications have. Community and justice 58 persons, individualism, and communalism suffering and injustice poverty and human development 5. The political and social thought of kwame nkrumah by ama biney. The term ethnophilosophy was first used by kwame nkrumah and was. 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. The term ethnophilosophy was first used by kwame nkrumah and was coined by pauline houtondji who. Orukas methodology is otherwise known as the conversation method in african philosophy that approach which subscribes to the interview, discussion and dialogue. 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. Pdf ethnophilosophy, although glorified by some african philosophers, remains a problem in our undertakings in african philosophy.
What are the dangers of an african philosophy that claims to be unique. Hapanyengwichemhuru abstract 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. Are there useful ways to make connections between african philosophy, african american philosophy, and womens studies. Department of philosophy and religious studies, kogi state university anyigba, nigeria. Ethno philosophy if one presupposes that in philosophy the african conception and contribution have a completely different nature from those of other. Liberation and postcolonial african philosophy 36 african humanism and socialism postcolonial african thought the question of race 4. 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. We would not know how to think, or walk, or speak, or behave as human beings unless we learned it from other human beings. Views of some of the bestknown african philosophers, such as kwasi wiredu, paulin hountondji, h. The four trends identified by oruka are as follows. Ethnophilosophys most immediate african antecedents include leopold senghors philosophy of negritude and the writings of the belgian missionary to the. 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. African sage philosophy internet encyclopedia of philosophy.
African philosophy is philosophy produced by african people, philosophy which presents african worldviews, or philosophy that uses distinct african philosophical methods. 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. Ethnophilosophy examines the systems of thought of existing and precolonial african communities in order to determine what can be the ideal forms of. African sage philosophy stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. Africanity of african philosophy according to osuagwu african historical reconstruction, vol 1. Odera orukas four trends in african philosophy and their.
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. Ethnophilosophy, unanimity, and african critical thought 84. Bodunrin, in his essay the question of african philosophy, writes, it is natural for the nationalist nonphilosopher colleague on a university curriculum committee to wonder why a philosophy department in an african university is not offering courses in african philosophy while there are courses on british. African academics doing philosophy in or outside western. Ethnophilosophy, african 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. Dec 29, 2015 african philosophy is philosophy produced by african people, philosophy which presents african worldviews, or philosophy that uses distinct african philosophical methods. Ethnophilosophy is the study of indigenous philosophical systems. 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. Organized topically rather than historically, this book provides an excellent introduction to the subject of african philosophy. Odera orukas four trends in african philosophy and. African professional philosophers reject the assumptions of ethno philosophy. These factors of africanity refer to a set of members.
Relating to the above quote, critically discuss orukas first trend, ento philosophy which he examines in his article. A companion to african philosophy edited by kwasi wiredu. African philosophers may be found in the various academic fields of philosophy, such as metaphysics, epistemology, moral philosophy, and political philosophy. Oct 17, 2016 african philosophy is philosophy produced by african people, philosophy which presents african worldviews, or philosophy that uses distinct african philosophical methods. Creatively coping with negative emotions gail presbey gail m. Hountondji, best known for his critique of ethnophilosophy in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Kodjograndvaux highlights a debate about ethnophilosophy that african philosophers have been grappling with for a long time. The african ubuntu philosophy a person is a person through other persons. 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. Nkrumah, kwame, 19091972political and social views. Pdf ethnophilosophy, comparative philosophy, pragmatism.
Unit 3 essay compare and contrast oruka four trends. The researchers argue that the works of oruka, as well as kenyan philosopher, john s. These political ideas, like ethnophilosophy, represent an attempt to try. The anthropology and ethnophilosophy of african literature. By using oral stories, poetry, songs, legends and proverbs, for example, as sources of knowledge one examines the consequences of such knowledge for. In this method, african philosophy is conceived as a joint venture and product of both the ancient traditional, as well as modern african philosophers. Mbiti, ought to be the basis for attempts to understand african philosophy. Pdf an essay concerning the foundational myth of ethnophilosophy. Presbey is an associate professor of philosophy at university of detroit mercy. In this volume, he responds with autobiographical and philosophical reflection to the dialogue. Before now, philosophers were engaged with such question as, whether or not there is an african philosophy. 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 the continent. The first four are the generally well known and well explained schools 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.
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