African philosophy, what traditions and resources it should draw upon, and to. Choice in this incisive, original exploration of the nature and future of african philosophy, paulin j. Paulin hountondji, africian philosophy, and philosophical methodology. African sage philosophy stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. Hountondji attacks a myth popularized by ethnophilosophers such as placide tempels and. The meaning and nature of african philosophy in a globalising. Paulin hountondji, african philosophy, myth and reality. Ebscohost serves thousands of libraries with premium essays, articles and other content including from myth to reality. This is a precious gem of a book for anyone who wishes to reflect on civilization and culture. Many readers and anthologies, introductions, and other paedagogical publications have. African philosophers may be found in the various academic fields of philosophy, such as metaphysics, epistemology, moral philosophy, and political philosophy. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read african philosophy.
African sage philosophy internet encyclopedia of philosophy. Published 712004 first published in city press, july, 2004 there is a common belief among whites that philosophy originates with the greeks. Philosophical papers paulin hountondji, african philosophy. Myth and reality african systems of thought 2 by paulin j. Aug 17, 2007 from city press column an african origin of philosophy. An african philosopher in germany in the eighteenth century. Just to be clear, there is no single best book on african philosophy. Locating and debating precolonial african philosophy. African philosophy is the philosophical discourse produced by indigenous africans and their descendants, including african americans. Thus, this notion privileges the greeks as the originators of philosophy, the highest of the sciences. This belgian missionarys bantu philosophy still passes today, in 20.
View the new experience and read this book on fulcrum. In a series of articles, later collated into a book, african philosophy. Pdf how student teachers understand african philosophy. Hountondji attacks a myth popularized by ethnophilosophers. Buy the paperback book african philosophy, second edition. The book aims to generate more insights and influence national, continental, and global debates in the field of philosophy. Clarence shole johnson 1998 southern journal of philosophy 36 2. A seminal work on ways of doing philosophy in africa.
Hountondji is one of the most important and controversial figures in contemporary african philosophy. The nook book ebook of the african philosophy, second edition. In this seminal exploration of the nature and future of african philosophy, paulin j. Aug 25, 2011 hountondji carved out a place in the field of african philosophy largely on the strength of his major work, 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. There is a common belief among whites that philosophy originates with the greeks. An 800page scholarly overview is unlikely to be best for someone looking for a short beginnerfriendly. Invitations for these talks came from the philosophical association of kenya, which oruka had founded african 71. Paulin j hountondji in this incisive, original exploration of the nature and future of african philosophy, paulin j. 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. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders.
Studies in history and philosophy of biological and biomedical sciences 42 1. Jun 16, 2014 the african people may have religion and myths, but not philosophy, according to this reasoning. Indigenous thinkers and modern debate on african philosophy, shuttes 1993 philosophy for africa, masolos 1994 african philosophy in search of identity and gyekyes 1995 an essay of african philosophical thought. His critique of ethnophilosophy as a colonial, exoticising and racialized undertaking provoked contentious debates among african intellectuals on the proper methods and scope of philosophy and science in an african and global context since the 1970s. 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. 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. By molefi kete asante first published in city press, july, 2004 there is a common belief among whites that philosophy originates with the greeks. Hountondji attacks a myth popularized by ethnophilosophers such as placide tempels and alexis kagame.
Indigenous thinkers and modern debate on african philosophy, shuttes 1993 philosophy for africa, masolos 1994. In this incisive, original exploration of the nature and future of african philosophy, paulin j. The african philosophy reader is an excellent collection of essays, and is intended for undergraduates and beginners in 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. The volume is heavily weighted towards contemporary african intellectuals, and draws heavily from regional african philosophies such as those in ghana, nigeria, and uganda. The best book for you will depend on your preferred learning style and the amount of time that you want to spend reading about african philosophy. The idea is so common that almost all of the books on philosophy start with the greeks as if the greeks predated all other people when it came to discussion of concepts of beauty, art, numbers, sculpture, medicine. Hountondji attacks a myth popularized by ethnophilosophers such as. Pdf paulin hountondji, african philosophy, myth and. The six best books on african philosophy the daily idea. Paulin hountondji, african philosophy, myth and reality 1974. An alienated literature history of a myth african philosophy, myth and reality philosophy and its revolutions part two. Myth and reality african systems of thought 9780253210968.
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. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. What is here called crosscultural understanding is itself a kind of compara. Narrative in african philosophy philosophy cambridge core. Maurice muhatia makumba 2007 paulines publications africa. Myth and reality, hountondji exposed as unwarranted a number of temples assumptions, including the assumption that africans think collectively rather than individually, and the assumption that all africans see nature as infused with spiritual forces. 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. This page contains a list of the best books on african philosophy. Translated by henri evans with the collaboration of jonathan ree. Receive email notifications on new books and special sales. Daniel becquemont 2011 studies in history and philosophy of science part c.
Hountondji c1996 indiana university press read book. Africana philosophy stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. Reflections on philosophy, culture and democracy in africa 1997. There is a serious problem with this line of reasoning. 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 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. Thorez 1956 the eyes of some, for a classic of african philosophy 2. Hountondji is one of the leading proponents of this view.
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