Reflections on philosophy, culture, and democracy in africa ohio. 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. 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. In this seminal exploration of the nature and future of african philosophy, paulin j. 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. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Hountondji attacks a myth popularized by ethnophilosophers such as placide tempels and alexis kagame that there is an indigenous, collective african philosophy separate and. Translated by henri evans with the collaboration of. Aug 17, 2007 from city press column an african origin of philosophy. Myth and reality, one of the most influential books on african philosophy. Paulin hountondji, african philosophy, myth and reality. There is a common belief among whites that philosophy originates with the greeks. An annotated bibliography of the recent studies on african philosophy. African philosophers may be found in the various academic fields of philosophy, such as metaphysics, epistemology, moral philosophy, and political philosophy.
A companion to african philosophy edited by kwasi wiredu. The six best books on african philosophy the daily idea. John contehmorgan is a professor in the department of french and italian and african and africanamerican. After a brief introduction to yoruba cosmology, the author analyzes representations associated with the main components of the human person. 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.
Africana philosophy stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. Samuel oluoch imbo synthesizes the ideas of key african philosophers into an accessible narrative. By molefi kete asante first published in city press, july, 2004 there is a common belief among whites that philosophy originates with the greeks. Click download or read online button to the african origin of civilization myth or reality book pdf for free now. An african philosophy of history for african unity. Daniel becquemont 2011 studies in history and philosophy of science part c. 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. 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. The african people may have religion and myths, but not philosophy, according to this reasoning. Paulin hountondji, african philosophy, myth and reality 1974. Download the african origin of civilization myth or reality ebook pdf or read online books in pdf, epub. Thus, this notion privileges the greeks as the originators of philosophy, the highest of the sciences.
Hountondji contends that ideological manifestations of this view that stress the. Indiana university press, 1983 was awarded the herskovits prize in 1984. 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. 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 translated from the french by henri evans with the collaboration of. The result of this heated debate is numerous scholarly books on african philosophy that are now used in many universities all over the world, but there are still many skeptics. These are some of the most prominent names and a selection of books that exemplify african issues.
Myth and reality african systems of thought 9780253210968. Paulin hountondji, africian philosophy, and philosophical methodology. African philosophy is the philosophical discourse produced by indigenous africans and their descendants, including african americans. Liberation and postcolonial african philosophy 36 african humanism and socialism postcolonial african thought the question of race 4. Myth and reality african systems of thought 2 by paulin j. Hountondji carved out a place in the field of african philosophy largely on the strength of his major work, african philosophy. This page contains a list of the best books on african philosophy. Indigenous thinkers and modern debate on african philosophy, shuttes 1993 philosophy for africa, masolos 1994. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. There is a serious problem with this line of reasoning. Bloomington, indiana university press samuel oluoch imbo an introduction to african philosophy 1998.
John contehmorgan is a professor in the department of french and italian and african and african american studies at ohio state university. An african philosopher in germany in the eighteenth century. D faculty of arts department of philosophy university of uyo, uyo abstract. One particular subject that many african philosophers have written about is that on the subject of. Clarence shole johnson 1998 southern journal of philosophy 36 2. Maspero, 1976 featured on the list of africas 100 best books of the 20th century. Published 712004 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. Philosophy, a discipline as old as the human faculty of reason has its thrust on the good life for man. Studies in history and philosophy of biological and biomedical sciences 42 1. Translated by henri evans with the collaboration of jonathan ree. The meaning and nature of african philosophy in a globalising. Jun 16, 2014 the african people may have religion and myths, but not philosophy, according to this reasoning. Upon investigation you will find the situation far more involved than a yesno answer.
This book is an attempt by a mental slave to appease his masters by denoucing the reality of an african philosophy that is different from european and asian philosophy. Ebscohost serves thousands of libraries with premium essays, articles and other content including from myth to reality. The idea is so common that almost all of the books on philosophy start with the greeks as. 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. An alienated literature history of a myth african philosophy, myth and reality philosophy and its revolutions pt. This collection provides a thorough introduction to african philosophy, literature, religion and anthropology through twentyfive readings from key thinkers. Download pdf the african origin of civilization myth or. African sage philosophy stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. Thought about thought african philosophy, myth and reality. D faculty of arts department of philosophy university of uyo, uyo.
The american version of his book philosophie africaine. This paper enters the debate by suggesting that african psychology is both myth and reality, conceived in the above terms. Maurice muhatia makumba 2007 paulines publications africa. A critical study of the major orientations in contemporary african philosophy. African philosophy of history and global philosophy of history. 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. Choice in this incisive, original exploration of the nature and future of african philosophy, paulin j. It is another sad defense of why african people cannot do or even think without a european or asian guide. Hountondji attacks a myth popularized by ethnophilosophers. Aug 25, 2011 hountondji carved out a place in the field of african philosophy largely on the strength of his major work, african philosophy. Just to be clear, there is no single best book on african philosophy. An 800page scholarly overview is unlikely to be best for someone looking for a short beginnerfriendly.