Changes

'''African philosophy''' is a disputed term, used in different ways by different [[philosophers]].  Although [[Africa]]n philosophers spend their time doing work in many different areas, such as [[metaphysics]], [[epistemology]], [[ethics|moral philosophy]], and [[political philosophy]], a great deal of the literature is taken up with a debate concerning the nature of African philosophy itself.  Though this is often criticised as being sterile and self-absorbed, it can nevertheless provide useful insights into the nature of philosophy in general.

'''African philosophy''' is a disputed term, used in different ways by different [[philosophers]].  Although [[Africa]]n philosophers spend their time doing work in many different areas, such as [[metaphysics]], [[epistemology]], [[ethics|moral philosophy]], and [[political philosophy]], a great deal of the literature is taken up with a debate concerning the nature of African philosophy itself.  Though this is often criticised as being sterile and self-absorbed, it can nevertheless provide useful insights into the nature of philosophy in general.

== Introduction ==

== Introduction ==

== Pre-modern African philosophy ==

== Pre-modern African philosophy ==

We start with yet another distinction: that between philosophers and philosophy.  [[Paulin J. Hountondji]] has argued that, without a written language: “thousands of Socrates could never have given birth to Greek philosophy... so thousands of philosophers without written works could never have given birth to an African philosophy” (Hountondji, p.106; quoted in Kwame, Introduction, p.xx).  Joseph I. Omoregbe's broad definition of a philosopher as, "one who devotes a good deal of his time reflecting on <nowiki>[</nowiki> fundamental questions about human life or the physical universe<nowiki>] </nowiki> and who frequently and habitually does this” (Omoregbe, p.4), and though no clearly articulated and documented philosophy exists, there is still a philosophical tradition.  Put simply, even if there were no known African philosophers, there was African philosophy.

We start with yet another distinction: that between philosophers and philosophy.  [[Paulin J. Hountondji]] has argued that, without a written language: “thousands of Socrates could never have given birth to Greek philosophy... so thousands of philosophers without written works could never have given birth to an African philosophy” (Hountondji, p.106; quoted in Kwame, Introduction, p.xx).  Joseph I. Omoregbe's broad definition of a philosopher as, "one who devotes a good deal of his time reflecting on <nowiki>[</nowiki> fundamental questions about human life or the physical universe<nowiki>] </nowiki> and who frequently and habitually does this” (Omoregbe, p.4), and though no clearly articulated and documented philosophy exists, there is still a philosophical tradition.  Put simply, even if there were no known African philosophers, there was African philosophy.

===Kawaida===

===Kawaida===

Created by [[Maulana Karenga]] the philosophy of Kawaida is an ongoing synthesis of African thought and practice in constant exchange with the world. One of its central tenets is that culture is the fundamental source of a people's identity, purpose and direction. Thus, Kawaida is, in fact, a continuous dialog with African culture, asking questions and seeking answers to central and enduring concerns of the African and human community. At the heart of this project is the continuing quest to define and become the best of what it means to be both African and human in the fullest sense. This involves an ongoing search for models of excellence and paradigms of possibilities in every area of human life, but especially in the seven core areas of culture: history; spirituality and ethics; social organization; political organization; economic organization; creative production (art, music, literature, dance, etc.) and ethos. It also involves creating a language and logic of liberation, one of opposition and affirmation, and a corresponding liberational practice to create a just and good society and pose an effective paradigm of mutually beneficial human relations and human possibility. <ref name="The US Organization">{{cite web|url=http://www.us-organization.org/30th/ppp.html|title="Principles of Us"|}}</ref>

Created by [[Maulana Karenga]] the philosophy of Kawaida is an ongoing synthesis of African thought and practice in constant exchange with the world. One of its central tenets is that culture is the fundamental source of a people's identity, purpose and direction. Thus, Kawaida is, in fact, a continuous dialog with African culture, asking questions and seeking answers to central and enduring concerns of the African and human community. At the heart of this project is the continuing quest to define and become the best of what it means to be both African and human in the fullest sense. This involves an ongoing search for models of excellence and paradigms of possibilities in every area of human life, but especially in the seven core areas of culture: history; spirituality and ethics; social organization; political organization; economic organization; creative production (art, music, literature, dance, etc.) and ethos. It also involves creating a language and logic of liberation, one of opposition and affirmation, and a corresponding liberational practice to create a just and good society and pose an effective paradigm of mutually beneficial human relations and human possibility. [https://www.us-organization.org/30th/ppp.html|title="Principles of Us"]

=== Nationalist&ndash;ideological philosophy ===

=== Nationalist&ndash;ideological philosophy ===

*Paulin J. Hountondji ''African Philosophy: Myth and Reality'' (1983: Bloomington, Indiana University Press)

*Paulin J. Hountondji ''African Philosophy: Myth and Reality'' (1983: Bloomington, Indiana University Press)

*Samuel Oluoch Imbo ''An Introduction to African Philosophy'' (1998: Rowman & Littlefield) ISBN 0-8476-8841-0

*Samuel Oluoch Imbo ''An Introduction to African Philosophy'' (1998: Rowman & Littlefield) ISBN 0-8476-8841-0

*Bruce B. Janz "African Philosophy" [http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~janzb/papers/37AfPhil.pdf PDF]

*Bruce B. Janz "African Philosophy" [https://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~janzb/papers/37AfPhil.pdf PDF]

*Safro Kwame ''Reading in African Philosophy: An Akan Collection'' (1995: University Press of America) ISBN 0-8191-9911-7

*Safro Kwame ''Reading in African Philosophy: An Akan Collection'' (1995: University Press of America) ISBN 0-8191-9911-7

*Joseph I. Omoregbe “African philosophy: yesterday and today” (in Bodunrin; references to reprint in [E. C. Eze] <nowiki>[ed.]</nowiki> ''African Philosophy: An Anthology'' (1998: Oxford, Blackwell))

*Joseph I. Omoregbe “African philosophy: yesterday and today” (in Bodunrin; references to reprint in [E. C. Eze] <nowiki>[ed.]</nowiki> ''African Philosophy: An Anthology'' (1998: Oxford, Blackwell))

*H. Odera Oruka <nowiki>[ed.]</nowiki> ''Sage Philosophy'' [Volume 4 in ''Philosophy of History and Culture''] (1990: E.J. Brill) ISBN 90-04-09283-8, ISSN 0922-6001

*H. Odera Oruka <nowiki>[ed.]</nowiki> ''Sage Philosophy'' [Volume 4 in ''Philosophy of History and Culture''] (1990: E.J. Brill) ISBN 90-04-09283-8, ISSN 0922-6001

*Tsenay Serequeberhan <nowiki>[ed.]</nowiki> ''African Philosophy: The Essential Readings'' (1991: Paragon House) ISBN 1-55778-309-8

*Tsenay Serequeberhan <nowiki>[ed.]</nowiki> ''African Philosophy: The Essential Readings'' (1991: Paragon House) ISBN 1-55778-309-8

*[[Placide Tempels]], ''La philosophie bantoue'' (''[[Bantu Philosophy]]''), Elisabethville, 1945, Full text in French [http://www.aequatoria.be/tempels/philbant1945Lovania.htm here].

*[[Placide Tempels]], ''La philosophie bantoue'' (''[[Bantu Philosophy]]''), Elisabethville, 1945, Full text in French [https://www.aequatoria.be/tempels/philbant1945Lovania.htm here].

*[[Kwasi Wiredu]] ''Philosophy and an African'' (1980: Cambridge University Press)   

*[[Kwasi Wiredu]] ''Philosophy and an African'' (1980: Cambridge University Press)   

*Kwasi Wiredu <nowiki>[ed.]</nowiki> ''A Companion to African Philosophy'' (2004: Blackwell)

*Kwasi Wiredu <nowiki>[ed.]</nowiki> ''A Companion to African Philosophy'' (2004: Blackwell)

*Kwasi Wiredu [http://web.africa.ufl.edu/asq/v1/4/3.htm ''Toward Decolonizing African Philosophy And Religion'' In: African Studies Quarterly, The Online Journal for African Studies, Volume 1, Issue 4, 1998]

*Kwasi Wiredu [https://web.africa.ufl.edu/asq/v1/4/3.htm ''Toward Decolonizing African Philosophy And Religion'' In: African Studies Quarterly, The Online Journal for African Studies, Volume 1, Issue 4, 1998]

*[http://web.africa.ufl.edu/asq/v1/v1_i4.htm Olabiyi Babalola Yai, Guest Editor: ''African Studies Quarterly, Volume 1, Issue 4 (1998): Religion and Philosophy in Africa'']

*[https://web.africa.ufl.edu/asq/v1/v1_i4.htm Olabiyi Babalola Yai, Guest Editor: ''African Studies Quarterly, Volume 1, Issue 4 (1998): Religion and Philosophy in Africa'']

== Wikiversity ==

== Wikiversity ==

== External links ==

== External links ==

*[http://www.hamline.edu/~soimbo/ Samuel Oluoch Imbo]'s page

*[https://www.hamline.edu/~soimbo/ Samuel Oluoch Imbo]'s page

*[http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~janzb/afphil/ African Philosophy Pages] &mdash; a huge site maintained by Bruce Janz

*[https://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~janzb/afphil/ African Philosophy Pages] &mdash; a huge site maintained by Bruce Janz

*[http://users.ox.ac.uk/~shil0124/african-philosophy.html African Philosophy] &mdash; maintained by Peter J. King

*[https://users.ox.ac.uk/~shil0124/african-philosophy.html African Philosophy] &mdash; maintained by Peter J. King

*[http://www.ascleiden.nl/Library/Webdossiers/AfricanPhilosophy.aspx African Philosophy page of African Studies Centre, Leiden]

*[https://www.ascleiden.nl/Library/Webdossiers/AfricanPhilosophy.aspx African Philosophy page of African Studies Centre, Leiden]

[[Category: General Reference]]

[[Category: General Reference]]

[[Category: African Philosophy]]

[[Category: African Philosophy]]