Provocative Essays in African Philosophy

Ikechukwu Anthony Kanu

Description

This work titled: Provocative Essays in African Philosophy has provided the desired atmosphere for African philosophers and philosophically inclined writers from various disciplines to bring their distinctive methods to bear on problems that concern everyone. This work is, therefore, strongly recommended for all who treasure good philosophical literature; and most especially for anyone who wishes to be abreast with important debates and developments in African philosophy. Experts, researchers, undergraduate and post-graduate students, beginners and casual readers in the area of African philosophy are bound to treasure the usefulness of this piece.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie
• Philosophy

Informations

• Publié par: AuthorHouse UK
• Date de parution: 18 juillet 2022
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781665599726
• Langue: English

Extrait

PROVOCATIVE ESSAYS IN AFRICAN PHILOSOPHY
 
 
 
 
 
Ikechukwu Anthony KANU
 
 
 

 
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© 2022 Ikechukwu Anthony KANU. All rights reserved.
 
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Published by AuthorHouse  06/17/2022
 
ISBN: 978-1-6655-9973-3 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-6655-9972-6 (e)
 
 
 
 
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DEDICATION
Frederick S. Wukari, OSA
CONTRIBUTORS
1. Prof. Kanu Ikechukwu Anthony, O.S.A, is a Professor of Religion in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Tansian University, Umunya.
2. Ejikemeuwa J. O. NDUBISI, Ph.D., Is a lecturer in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Tansian University, Umunya.
3. Charles Chukwuemeka Nweke, Ph.D., is a lecturer in the Department of Philosophy, Nnamdi Azikiwe University.
4. Aye, Aondongu Joseph, is a lecturer in the Department of Philosophy, Veritas University, Abuja.
5. Paul T. Haaga, Ph.D, is a lecturer in the Department of Philosophy, Veritas University, Abuja
6. Onebunne, Jude Ifeanyichukwu, Ph.D, is a lecturer in the Federal College of Education (Technical) Umunze.
7. Chinedu Stephen Ifeakor, is a lecturer in the Department of Philosophy, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.
8. Philip Osarobu ISANBOR, is a lecturer at St Albert Institute for Higher Education Fayit-Fadan, Kagoma
9. Peace I. Osaghae, is a lecturer in the Department of Philosophy, Veritas University, Abuja.
10. Ufearoh, Anthony, Ph.D, is a lecturer in the Department of Philosophy, University of Calabar, Calabar.
11. Ejike, Emeka Cyril , is a lecturer in the Department of Philosophy, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.
12. Aghamelu Fidelis Chuka, is a lecturer in the Department of Philosophy, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Dedication
Contributors
Introduction
Chapter 1African Logic
Ejikemeuwa J. O. NDUBISI, Ph.D.
Chapter 2Emmanuel Levinas’ Concept Of Otherness And The African Existential Situation: A Hermeneutic Engagement
Charles Chukwuemeka Nweke
Chapter 3Immortality In Tiv Thought
Paul T. Haaga, Ph.D & Aye, Aondongu Joseph
Chapter 4African Environmental Ethics: A Non –Anthropocentric African Environmentalism
Chinedu Stephen Ifeakor & Andrew Otteh
Chapter 5A Metaphysical Expistemological Study Of African Medical Practitioners
KANU, Ikechukwu Anthony
Chapter 6Nature And Function Of Logic In African Epistemology
Ejikemeuwa, J. O. Ndubisi, Ph.D.
Chapter 7Practicing Participatory Democracy In Nigeria
Paul T. Haaga Ph.D.
Chapter 8Political Globalism And Its Impact On African Nations
Onebunne, Jude Ifeanyichukwu PhD & Ufearoh, Anthony PhD
Chapter 9Religious Pluralism And Its Psycho-Philosophical Approach And Relevance
Philip Osarobu ISANBOR
Chapter 10The Place Of Africa In Globalization
Peace I. Osaghae & Paul T. Haaga, Ph.D.
Chapter 11Fanon’s Theory Of Violence And Its Relevance To Contemporary Violence In Africa
Aghamelu, Fidelis Chuka & Ejike, Emeka Cyril
Chapter 12Igwebuike As A Hermeneutic Of Individuality And Communality In African Ontology
KANU, Ikechukwu Anthony
About the Author
INTRODUCTION
The present work is a collection of papers that border on the African philosophical enterprise. And these papers address fundamental questions and clarify crucial concepts in the area of African philosophy. The first chapter addresses the questions: Is there anything like African Logic? If yes, what is the nature of African Logic? It employs the philosophical method of analysis to argue that there is African Logic. It maintains that an organized life, like that of the African people, cannot be possible without the tool of logic that is anchored on the culture of the people. It established that African Logic is a major branch of African Philosophy which deals with the thought-pattern, language and worldviews of the African in the African world. The second chapter, using Levinas’ philosophy looks into the phenomenology of Otherness, unlike the capitalist perspective that sees the other in terms of profit and loss, it calls for a communalist understanding of the other as a co-traveler in the project of African development. Chapter three ventures into the Tiv conception of immortality, which has received little attention from scholars especially that of Tiv extraction.
The fourth chapter evaluates the theories and conceptions put forward by scholars in their bid to evolving a promising non anthropocentric African environmentalism. While the fifth chapter focuses on a metaphysical and epistemological study of African Medical Practitioners, the sixth chapter discusses African Epistemology. Chapter seven addresses the major methodological problems in Nigerian democratic structure and demonstrated the nexus between freedom and democracy. The eighth chapter gives a clear meaning to political globalism in Africa, its importance and effects on African political growth. Chapter nine stands for the thriving of religious pluralism with its ingredients of religious freedom and respect for human rights and dignity against the weighty negative effects of religious fanaticism and fundamentalism. While chapter ten takes the reader back to the issue of Africa and globalization, chapter eleven discusses Fanon’s political philosophy of revolution. The work closes with a chapter on the dynamics of individuality and communality in African ontology.
This work titled: Provocative Essays in African Philosophy has provided the desired atmosphere for African philosophers and philosophically inclined writers from various disciplines to bring their distinctive methods to bear on problems that concern everyone. This work is, therefore, strongly recommended for all who treasure good philosophical literature; and most especially for anyone who wishes to be abreast with important debates and developments in African philosophy. Experts, researchers, undergraduate and post-graduate students, beginners and casual readers in the area of African philosophy are bound to treasure the usefulness of this piece.
Prof. Kanu Ikechukwu Anthony, O .S.A
Department of Philosophy and Religious Stu dies
Tansian University, Um unya
CHAPTER ON E AFRICAN LOGIC
Ejikemeuwa J. O. NDUBISI, Ph.D.
Executive Summary
As a major branch of philosophy, logic deals with the basic principles, techniques and methods for distinguishing good arguments from bad arguments. It focuses on the validity and/or the soundness of our reasoning processes. It is through the instrumentality of logic that we can distinguish between truth and falsity, consistency and inconsistency, validity and invalidity, etc. in our daily usage of language. Logic is a prerogative of the human person as a rational being. However, some scholars have argued for the non-existence of African Logic. This position has troubled the mind of the researcher. The pertinent questions now are: Is there anything like African Logic? If yes, what is the nature of African Logic? Therefore, employing the philosophical method of analysis, this study strongly argues that there is African Logic. It maintains that an organized life, like that of the African people, cannot be possible without the tool of logic that is anchored on the culture of the people. This study finally submits that African Logic is a major branch of African Philosophy which deals with the thought-pattern, language and worldviews of the African in the African world.
Keywords: Logic, Philosophy, African logic, African Philosophy, Rationality
Introduction
The word logic is not new to many of us. We have heard of it before and many of us have used it severally in our speeches and writings. But despite its familiarity, it is a word that most people find difficult to define in clear terms. This is because the word ‘logic’ can be used in several senses. Francis Offor identifies three major ways in which one can look at the term ‘logic’ all of which are equally correct. In the first sense, the term logic is used to describe the totality of all laws guiding the human thought (Offor, 2010, p.3). It is a truism that humans are rational beings whose thinking processes are based on certain principles. The totality of these principles can be described using the word ‘logic.’
In another sense, the word ‘logic’ can be used to describe the principles guiding the operation of a mechanism. Every gadget or thing has its own inner logic which describes the way such a gadget or a particular thing operates. For instance, when we operate our GSM handset, it follows a given procedure. When a call comes in, we have to press the ‘receive’ button and the call is received, and to end the call, we have to press the ‘end’ button. If we press the ‘end’ button and the handset starts sending messages indiscriminately, then something is wrong and the set will be said not to