African Philosophy

[Unkotare]

A good deal of academic study in this area (real academic study, not the promotion of any racial agenda) centers on the question as to whether such a thing actually exists in and of itself apart from a reflection of or reaction to colonialism.

This itself makes it an interesting area of study.

 

[SobieskiSavedEurope]

Bitches, Riches, Bling Bling, Money ain't a thing, ya dig?
- African American philosophy

 

[usmbguest5318]

Bitches, Riches, Bling Bling, Money ain't a thing, ya dig?
- African American philosophy

Be that as it may, the OP/thread isn't about African American philosophy.

 

[SeaGal]

A good deal of academic study in this area (real academic study, not the promotion of any racial agenda) centers on the question as to whether such a thing actually exists in and of itself apart from a reflection of or reaction to colonialism.

This itself makes it an interesting area of study.

...or was it 'African Philosophy' that led to/invited colonialism.

Barring that - does the story differ any from the old, old story of the whole of humanity. Could there be any philosophy in a society untouched by other societies? All of the New World and much of the old were subject to colonialism, with wildly varying results. Were the prevailing philosophies erased, or did they evolve...or were there none to begin with? If it is human nature to aggressively seek to acquire and dominate - wouldn't the changes made to the social structure and thought processes of the dominated be in fact as natural and indigenous as the unconscious influence of environmental factors, some cataclysmic, associated with physical evolution, or survival of the fittest?

Since most pre-colonial Africans lived in tribal units, since we know that those tribal units sometimes clashed - I would bet that there were philosophers among them...perhaps more deeply rooted in superstition, or explanations for observed realities, not so very different from many primitive cultures world wide. (primitive as in comparison to modern societies stuff and conveniences) Colonialism obviously impacted native populations.

Have you got any links to some of the studies?

 

[usmbguest5318]

A good deal of academic study in this area (real academic study, not the promotion of any racial agenda) centers on the question as to whether such a thing actually exists in and of itself apart from a reflection of or reaction to colonialism.

This itself makes it an interesting area of study.

It

Bitches, Riches, Bling Bling, Money ain't a thing, ya dig?
- African American philosophy

Be that as it may, the OP/thread isn't about African American philosophy.

is

Well, why, then, did you title the thread "African Philosophy" rather than "African American Philosophy;" moreover, refer to the disputed nature of African philosophy, the existence of which was, for a time, indeed disputed? Would it really have been onerous to have included the word "American" after "African" in your title, at least so readers would know what you meant?

To wit, African American philosophy, doesn't exist apart from Western European philosophy on the whole because African Americans are, first and foremost, Americans. African Americans, like all Americans, are taught and inculcated with the principles of Western philosophy because they are "products" of American culture and educational systems. There neither is nor was a broadly accepted movement among African Americans whereby they, like, for example, Native Americans have a completely separate philosophical system, or set thereof, to which they ascribe.

Okay, you attest to the thread being about African American philosophy. I accept that. I can't imagine how anyone being even moderately informed about philosophy in general is going to know you intend that as the topic insofar as that is not what the title and original narrative in the OP indicate. Perhaps, however, you aren't really entreating for a discussion with people who are moderately to well informed about philosophy, and in particular African philosophy?

 

[waltky]

Even African Grannies...

... prob'ly got a good philosophy...

... ever' once in a while.

 

[SeaGal]

It

Be that as it may, the OP/thread isn't about African American philosophy.

is

Oh.

 

[usmbguest5318]

It

Be that as it may, the OP/thread isn't about African American philosophy.

is

Oh.

Exactly....

 

[Unkotare]

Franz Crahay wrote at length in 1965 about the necessity to reconstruct an African discourse in and of itself if an African Philosophy were to be truly established. This raises the question as to whether such a thing is possible given the history that already exists. History cannot be unimposed on a people or their philosophy. Under the weight of colonialism and identity relative to European influence, how can a truly African Philosophy emerge? Perhaps no such thing has ever emerged for any people given the interconnected nature of human experience and unavoidable heuristic progression of thought and understanding.