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Essay - Defining African Philosophy
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Defining African Philosophy using at least one theorists
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Essay - Defining African PhilosophyUsing at least one of the theorists as discussed in the Reader and/or Tutorial
Letter 501, how will you go about defining an African Philosophy
ANSWER:
Introduction
It should be borne in mind that the understanding of the concept philosophy will eventually
guide an understanding of African Philosophy. Defining philosophy is not without
controversy. However, we shall limit the term "philosophy", derived from the Greek
language which means literally the love of wisdom. It is important to recognise that to be
genuine lovers of wisdom we must pay attention to and question every experience.
Therefore, we can define philosophy as a quest, search, inquiry or reflection of human
beings, in all areas of human endeavour. As an inquiry, it reflects on the world, to prefer
explanation to absurdities, mysteries, puzzles or as an appeal to underlying principles of
things in existence, thus involving theorization with a resulting systematization or
generality. Against this aforementioned definition, this essay shall explorer African
Philosophy and its definition. In doing so, the essay puts forward two important elements
when defining African Philosophy, namely, (1) culture of the African people and (2) and the
person doing the philosophy.
Defining African Philosophy
In exploring the definition of "philosophy", One could suggest that African Philosophy is
basically philosophical and typically African. A point of departure is looking at the culture of
the African people and the person doing the philosophy are very important and
indispensable elements. When we speak of the culture of the African people, it means that
African Philosophy must speak to African problems and situations. Secondly, the person
doing the philosophy must either come from Africa, or an African living in Diaspora or
someone not coming from Africa but living in Africa and involved in the life of the African
people. Such a person can meaningfully and authentically contribute to the development
of African thought.
African philosophy can be formally defined as a critical thinking by Africans on their
experiences of reality. It concerns itself with the way in which African people of the past
and present make sense of their destiny and of the world in which they live. African
philosophy bears in mind the African, its world, history, values and the significant impact
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