An introduction to the main philosophical trends in contemporary africa attempt to excavate the philosophical elements in folklore and myth. Hountondji attacks a myth popularized by ethnophilosophers such as placide tempels and alexis kagame that there is an indigenous, collective african philosophy separate and. D faculty of arts department of philosophy university of uyo, uyo abstract. Daniel becquemont 2011 studies in history and philosophy of science part c. Aug 25, 2011 hountondji carved out a place in the field of african philosophy largely on the strength of his major work, african philosophy. In the early 1990s he briefly served as minister of education and minister for culture and communications in. A short history of african philosophy peace palace library. Choice in this incisive, original exploration of the nature and future of african philosophy, paulin j. Although african philosophers spend their time doing work in many different areas, such as metaphysics, epistemology, moral philosophy, and political philosophy, a great deal of the literature is taken up with a debate concerning the nature of african philosophy itself and if it in fact exists. 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. Transcending the boundaries between myth and reality introduction it is an acknowledged fact that the literature on social history and anthropology is replete with varying and bewildering instances of the projections of western cultural superiority. Paulin hountondji, african philosophy, myth and reality 1974. A critical study of the major orientations in contemporary african philosophy. Published 712004 first published in city press, july, 2004 there is a common belief among whites that philosophy originates with the greeks.
Africana is a more inclusive term for scholarship related to both africa and the diaspora. The structure for our reading of african philosophy and entering. One particular subject that many african philosophers have written about is that on the subject of. African philosophy is the philosophical discourse produced by indigenous africans and their descendants, including african americans. 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. African philosophers may be found in the various academic fields of philosophy, such as metaphysics, epistemology, moral philosophy, and political philosophy. I use the term african to refer to scholarship that is specically concerned with the african continent and its cultures. The philosophical paradigm of african identity and development. Liberation and postcolonial african philosophy 36 african humanism and socialism postcolonial african thought the question of race 4. Community and justice 58 persons, individualism, and communalism suffering and injustice poverty and human development 5. Another version regards it as an obvious reality, in that there is a substantial body of psychological literature that originates in the african context and is engaged with african issues and problems. Since the 1970s he has taught at the universite nationale du benin in cotonou, where he is professor of philosophy. African philosophy therefore is the reflection based on the experiences of ancestors.
Reflections on philosophy, culture and democracy in africa 1997. Indeterminancy, ethnophilosophy, linguistic philosophy. Maurice muhatia makumba 2007 paulines publications africa. Invitations for these talks came from the philosophical association of kenya, which oruka had founded african 71. Pdf paulin hountondji, african philosophy, myth and.
This paper enters the debate by suggesting that african psychology is both myth and reality, conceived in the above terms. In the african context, professional philosophy consists in the analysis and interpretation of reality in general. Africana philosophy stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. Philosophy, mythology and an african cosmological system. Not only is the word philosophy not greek, the practice of philosophy existed long before the greeks. 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. Philosophical papers paulin hountondji, african philosophy. D faculty of arts department of philosophy university of uyo, uyo. It further consists of criticism and argument, which to them, are the essential characteristics and conditions for any form of knowledge to be judged as philosophy.
The folds in paulin hountondjis african philosophy, myth. Paulin hountondji, african philosophy, myth and reality 1974 bruce b. The african origin of civilization myth or reality download the african origin of civilization myth or reality ebook pdf or read online books in pdf, epub, and mobi format. Armed with the above reminders we approach our task with the confidence of listening to and hearing the particulars in the current discussion of african philosophy. Imhotep, ptahhotep, amenemhat, merikare, duauf, amenhotep, son of hapu, akhenaten, and the sage of khunanup, are just a few of the african philosophers who lived long before there was a greece or a greek philosopher. History of african philosophy internet encyclopedia of. In fact, it is an ethnological work with philosophical pretensions, or more simply, if i may coin the word, a work of ethnophilosophy. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. African language myth, proverbs, idioms, etc becomes the vehicle of african thought.
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. Anyanwus philosophical significance of myth and symbol. Oct 17, 2016 african philosophy can be formally defined as a critical thinking by africans on their experiences of reality. African philosophy of law 52 william idowu african philosophy of law.
Paulin hountondji, african philosophy, myth and reality. Hountondji carved out a place in the field of african philosophy largely on the strength of his major work, african philosophy. In this incisive, original exploration of the nature and future of african philosophy, paulin j. The meaning and nature of african philosophy in a globalising. Hountondji contends that ideological manifestations of this view that stress the. A companion to african philosophy edited by kwasi wiredu. Their denial is based on their characterisation of philosophy as a rational and critical inquiry, while myth and cosmology are taken by them. 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 sage philosophy stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. African sage philosophy internet encyclopedia of 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.
Paulin hountondji born 11 april 1942 in abidjan, cote divoire is a beninese philosopher, politician and academic. Download the african origin of civilization myth or reality ebook pdf or read online books in pdf, epub, and mobi format. Click download or read online button to the african origin of civilization myth or reality book pdf for free now. Studies in history and philosophy of biological and biomedical sciences 42 1.
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. An alienated literature history of a myth african philosophy, myth and reality philosophy and its revolutions part two. In this seminal exploration of the nature and future of african philosophy, paulin j. According to kwame gyekye, philosophy is essentially a rational, critical and systematic inquiry into the. Philosophy, a discipline as old as the human faculty of reason has its thrust on the good life for man. Hountondji attacks a myth popularized by ethnophilosophers such as placide temples and alexis kagame that there is an indigenous, collective african philosophy, separate and distinct from the western philosophical tradition. Jun 16, 2014 not only is the word philosophy not greek, the practice of philosophy existed long before the greeks. African philosophy can be formally defined as a critical thinking by africans on their experiences of reality. Download pdf the african origin of civilization myth or. The meaning and nature of african philosophy in a globalising world kanu ikechukwu anthony. This belgian missionarys bantu philosophy still passes today, in 20. This explains why ijiomah defined logic as the science of the relationship among levels of realities and since realities differ from one culture to another, it follows that logic differs.
Many readers and anthologies, introductions, and other paedagogical publications have. Myth and reality african systems of thought 9780253210968. Upon investigation you will find the situation far more involved than a yesno answer. These are some of the most prominent names and a selection of books that exemplify african issues. An african philosopher in germany in the eighteenth century. A paper based on the talks was published in french in 1973 in cahiers philosophiques africainsafrican philosophical journal and later incorporated into hountondjis book, african philosophy. Hountondji is one of the leading proponents of this view. The folds in paulin hountondjis african philosophy, myth and reality article pdf available in philosophical papers 391. African philosophy is used in different ways by different philosophers.
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