This enterprise is informed by the conviction that philosophy of education, while it deals with some issues that are peculiar to education, can benefit immensely from other philosophical discourses. Project muse african philosophy and thought systems. Professor peter bodunrins paper the question of african philosophy philosophy 55 1981 161179 has, as it were, become the first question for most african scholars, teachers or. Mogobe ramoses two papers are most instructive in this regard. Trends in african philosophy, philosophy of education, henry odera oruka. In this article, we seek to reflect on the implications of the four trends on education in africa. Pdf a short history of african philosophy semantic scholar. 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, ethnophilosophy, philosophic sagacity, nationalisticideological philosophy, professional philosophy, hermeneutic philosophy, and artistic or literary philosophy.
The sage philosophy project began in the mid1970s at the department of philosophy of the university of nairobi kenya. For briefer overviews on current topics and trends in african philosophy, see the work of ochieng odhiambo 2010 and anoka 2012. Odera orukas four trends in african philosophy and their. The concept ubuntu is a focal point in african philosophy, which cannot just be reduced to tradition practices. Pdf odera orukas four trends in african philosophy and.
Contemporary african social and political philosophy is rooted in the daily lives of african people, and it expresses itself through multiple modalities including, for example, art, religion, literature, music and the policy of urbanization of african cities. Views of some of the bestknown african philosophers, such as kwasi wiredu, paulin hountondji, h. 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. Pdf henry odera oruka and the question of methodology in. 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. 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. Zeverin emagalit finds four trends in the present african philosophy. In this paper, i engage in a critical discussion of francophone african philosophy focusing on its history, the influences, and emerging trends. 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. African philosophy essaysone of the foundations of the african concept of harmony and peace rests upon the basic african cultural worldview of the philosophy of participation and integration. Origin, trends and articulation of african philosophy 3. The kenyan philosopher henry odera oruka distinguishes what he calls four trends in african philosophy. Especially the black african manual labourers thought of having nothing between their. The four philosophical trends identified by oruka are, thus.
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. Consequently, it utilizes interview, discussion and dialogue. 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. 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. The first chapter critically evaluates the six trends of african philosophy as suggested by oruka. It is intended to be used with a textbook it was written for published in 2002 under oxford university press as philosophy from africa. African philosophers may be found in the various academic fields of philosophy, such as metaphysics, epistemology, moral philosophy, and political philosophy. On studocu you find all the study guides, past exams and lecture notes for this course. The fourth and fifth chapters offer a critique of the concept of person and african socialism respectively. Oswell hapanyengwichemhuru, odera orukas four trends in. The call for papers prior to the conference asked for presenters that were a passionate about philosophy and b. Firstly, ehtnic philosophy also defined as the philosophy of africa, consists of religious and moral beliefs and contains peoples view of life and the experience of. African philosophy essays essays and papers online.
This is a vital text for understanding contextual historical trends in the development of african philosophic ideas on the continent and how africans could possibly navigate the turbulent catadromous waters, tangled webs and chasms of destruction, and chagrin of struggles that have engrossed africa. Odera orukas four trends in african philosophy and their implications for education in africa oswell hapanyengwichemhuru thought and practice. It is language that characterises the philosophy of many countries in the world today. An annotated bibliography of the recent studies on african philosophy. In the phrase african socialism, the word african is not introduced to describe a continent to which a foreign ideology is to be transplanted. On a general note, the thrust or focus of this paper is an attempt at identifying the nature of african. For the sophists, it would be questioning the foundations of traditional religion, morality and. Africana philosophy stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. O hapanyengwi odera orukas four trends and their implications. Ogotemelli is a sage who is interviewed by marcel and the result is the philosophy of religion of the dogan people. Basically, there are four trends that can be regarded as the core of african contemporary philosophy in our present times.
The book aims to generate more insights and influence national, continental, and global debates in the field of philosophy. Hountondji, philosophy can be regarded as the most selfconscious of disciplines. Current trends and perspectives in african philosophy a. What are the specific qualities that distinguish it from western philosophy. Methodology, african philosophy, philosophic sagacity. African sage philosophy stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. African philosophy and the future of africa1 gerard walmsley the papers in this volume were all presented at a conference on african philosophy and the future of africa st augustine college of south africa, october 2007. These ideologies are basic substances of african philosophy and african literature. The african ubuntu philosophy a person is a person through other persons. We would not know how to think, or walk, or speak, or behave as human beings unless we learned it from other human beings. In this philosophical trend, sages get the status of formal community thinkers. African sage philosophy internet encyclopedia of philosophy.
An introduction to the history, concepts and contemporary issues. African philosophy is a technique to adjust ones life, which is focused on a western way of existence. Key words trends in african philosophy, philosophy of education, henry odera oruka. While the second is branded as philosophic sagacity, the third trend is nationalistideological philosophy. Many readers and anthologies, introductions, and other paedagogical publications have. How, in your opinion, did tempels contribute to the development of african philosophy. One particular subject that many african philosophers have written about. Introduction to african philosophy pls1502 unisa studocu. Chapter 2 deals with trends in african philosophy from two perspectives. The paper first gives an outline of various approaches to african philosophy proposed by african philosophers.
The african philosophy reader peace palace library. Nov 2016 and jun 2016 10 marks answer from the exam pack language is an important component in the study of philosophy. In the last four decades, there has been a lively debate regarding the nature and status of african philosophy. List of books and articles about african philosophy. African philosophy is not so much an area or topic within philosophy as it is a set of culturally original questions about the full range of philosophical issues. 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. On the existence and nonexistence of african philosophy. Place, deleuze and guattari, and african philosophy by janz, bruce b philosophy today, vol. Histories, anthologies, introductions to african philosophy, journals, and websites conclusion. A journal of the philosophical association of kenya 5 2. This philosophical trend is a creation of professor odera h. Pdf odera orukas four trends in african philosophy and their. It deals with metaphysics, epistemology, axiology, and methodology, as well as with the problems and opportunities of intercultural philosophizing. This paper is an attempt to survey although in a critical.
It is meant to convey the african roots of a system that is itself african in its characteristics. The purpose of this paper is to present a commentary on the current state of. On the one hand, readers are introduced to various trends as distinguished by different authors, and on the other, they are given an idea of debates on issues raised by such classifications. Nov 2016 and jun 2016 10 marks answer from the exam pack. A crosscultural approach to classical and contemporary issues philosophy and the human situation richard h. She thus contextualizes the trends in african philosophy in relation to the. 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. This a 2007 version of a study guide the unisa philosophy dept has used to introduce to students since 2007. Odera oruka, four trends in current african philosophy. African philosophy enables one to enquire about the importance of tradition and the values they equip an individual with. The present paper shows the very truth how philosophy matters in african literature. 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. Oruka of nairobi university and it is a trend subscribed by many contemporary philosophers mostly in eastern africa and other parts of africa. These trends confirm that african philosophy is more than traditions, culture or ubuntu.
Trends and issues in african philosophy researchgate. An introduction to the main philosophical trends in contemporary africa. Department of philosophy and religious studies, kogi state university anyigba, nigeria. There is no drastic distinction between man and nature. Origin, trends and articulation of african philosophy 3 origin, trends and articulation of african philosophy 3 on february 18, 2011 12. African philosophy instils decent values in people and teaches us to love our neighbours and that we have a duty towards them. This module outlines the development of african philosophy in the 20th century, a discourse that hinges on the following questions. African philosophy is the philosophical discourse produced by indigenous africans and their descendants, including african americans. A companion to african philosophy edited by kwasi wiredu. In fact it would be more realistic to call them candidates for the position of african philosophy, with the understanding that more than one of them. The first four are the generally well known and well explained schools of african 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.
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