Philosophy in Culture

Yaya Fonye Odette

Description

This book explores the symbiotic relationship between philosophy and culture. Every philosophy emerges as a reaction to, or as justification for a particular culture and it is for this reason that philosophy may differ from one culture to another. It argues that philosophy is an essential part of every culture. Philosophy is the means by which every culture provides itself with justification for its values, beliefs and worldview and also serves as a catalyst for progress. Philosophy critically questions and confronts established beliefs, customs, practices, and institutions of a society. As reflective critical thinking, philosophy is linked to a way of life; a form of enquiry intended to guide behaviour; a form of thinking that sharpens and broadens our intellectual horizon, scrutinizes our assumptions, and clarifies the beliefs and values by which we live. Philosophy helps to liberate the individual from the imprisonment of ignorance, prejudice, superstition, narrow-mindedness, and the despotism of custom. Culture constitutes the raw data, the laboratory from which philosophers do their analytic experimentation. Culture is considered as philosophy of the first order activity. The book maintains that any genuine global philosophy must include philosophical traditions from all cultures and regions of the world, as it is by seeking alternative philosophical answers to some of the thorniest problems facing humanity that we are most likely to find more lasting solutions to some global problems. In this commitment to a universal humanity, we cannot afford to depend on solutions from a single culture or from the most influential cultures.

Sujets

• Philosophy

Informations

• Publié par: Langaa RPCIG
• Date de parution: 13 septembre 2016
• Nombre de lectures: 3
• EAN13: 9789956764006
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 3 Mo

Extrait

PHILOSOPHY IN CULTURE P ILOSOPHY IN CULTURE A Cross-Cultural Perspective

E

E DITEDBY Mbih J. Tosam & Peter Takov

Philosophy in Culture A Cross-Cultural Perspective

Edited by Mbih J. Tosam & Peter Takov

L a ng a a R esea rch & P u blishing CIG Mankon, Bamenda

Publisher: LangaaRPCIG Langaa Research & Publishing Common Initiative Group P.O. Box 902 Mankon Bamenda North West Region Cameroon [e-mail] www.langaa-rpcig.net Distributed in and outside N. America by African Books Collective [e-mail] www.africanbookscollective.com

ISBN: 9956-763-66-7 ©Mbih, J. Tosam & Peter Takov 2016 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical or electronic, including photocopying and recording, or be stored in any information storage or retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher

Notes on Contributors Fidel Tanjuobtained his B. Phil. from Saint Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary, Bambui, affiliate of the Pontifical Urban University, Rome. Thereafter, he got an M. Phil in Ethics and Politics from the Catholic University of Central Africa. He is currently lecturing at the Catholic University of Cameroon, Bamenda, where he also serves as the Program Coordinator of the Philosophy Graduate Program. He also gives part-time lectures at the Saint Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary, Bambui. He holds a PhD in Business Administration. Mbih J. TosamChair of Philosophy at the Higher Teacher is Training College (HTTC) Bambili, The University of Bamenda, Cameroon. He obtained his PhD from the University of Yaoundé I in 2011. He has research interests in Bioethics, Philosophy of Medicine, Social and Political Philosophy and African Philosophy. His papers have appeared in national and intentional scholarly journals. He is also a member of the Cameroon Bioethics Initiative (CAMBIN). Charles-Robert DIMIholds a PhD in the Social Sciences from the University of Rouen in France. After several years at l’Ecole Normale Supérieure Yaoundé of the University of Yaoundé I as Chair of Philosophy, he is currently Professor of Philosophy and Dean of the Faculty of Arts, letters and Social Sciences of the University of Dschang. LandryJudicaël KENGNE TANGA is former assistant at the Alliance Franco-Camerounaise of Dschang and Pedagogic Delegate of AFREDIT; heis a High School teacher of philosophy and a PhD student at the University of Dschang. He is completing a PhD thesis on Spinoza. Peter Takova diocesan priest of the Diocese of Kumbo, is th Cameroon. He was ordained priest on the 25 of March 1994 by Mgr. Cornelius F. Esua. Besides numerous functions, Fr. Peter has served as Chaplain to St. Rita’s College, Nkambe and principal of St.

Sylvester’s College, Sop, Kumbo. Fr. Peter holds a PhD in Philosophy from the Pontifical Urban University, Rome – Italy. He is currently Chair of Philosophy at the St. Thomas Aquinas’ Major Seminary, Bambui, Cameroon, and visiting lecturer in the Departments of Philosophy of the Higher Teacher Training College (HTTC) Bambili of the University of Bamenda and the Catholic University of Cameroon (CATUC), Bamenda. In 2012 he published A Guide to Scientific Writing, which serves as a quick reference for both teachers and students engaged in scientific writing. Michael Kpughe Langis lecturer of History at the Higher Teacher Training College Bambili, University of Bamenda, Cameroon. He holds a PhD in the History of Religion from the University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon and has focused much of his research on missiology, ecumenism, corruption, church governance, secularism, religious pluralism and interreligious dialogue. He is an alumni of the Study of the United States Institute (SUSI) on Religious Pluralism and is a member of international scholarly associations such as Africa for Research in Comparative Education (AFRICE) andCentre de Recherches et d’Echanges sur la Diffusion et l’Inculturation du Christianisme (CREDIC). Valentine B. Ngalimhails from Bamfem, in Kumbo, Nso’ in the Northwest region of Cameroon. He holds a PhD in Philosophy of Education, from the UNESCO Chair of Central Africa, hosted by University of Marien Ngouabi, Brazzaville, Congo. He is a Lecturer at the University of Bamenda. His research interest focuses on critical issues in education. His studies give a critical outlook at educational theories and practices. Ngalim has published papers on the question of harmonization of the educational sub-systems in Cameroon. Some of his publications include onLack of Harmonisation of Secondary Education Curricula in Cameroon: Causes in Centre and Northwest Regionsin Scholars’ Press, Saarbrueken, 2014. Mbinkai M. Tazuhhails from Mbatu Mezam Division of the North West Region of Cameroon. She obtained her BSc. in Women’s Studies and Sociology from the University of Buea in 2006, Second Cycle Higher Teachers Diploma in Philosophy from the University

of Bamenda in 2013, and an M.A. in Philosophy from the Catholic University of Cameroon, Bamenda. She has research interests in issues concerning embodiment and feminist philosophy. She has worked with Grassroots Development Organizations and obtained development experience in gender related issues for the past 8 years. Nelson Shangis a PhD student at the University of Dschang and currently teaches Philosophy at the St Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary – Bambui and at the Catholic University of Cameroon (CATUC) – Bamenda. He has co-authored A Core-Course to Advanced Level Philosophy for Advanced Level Candidates with Justin Ransheeh Jaff; Rudiments of Ordinary Level Logic with Fr Peter Takov (PhD); Lecture Notes: Logic; and Lecture Notes: History of Ancient Philosophy and has written a number of articles. He is currently working on his PhD thesis in Process Philosophy. Peter Foinjong Awoh is Assistant Lecturer at the Department of English Modern Letters, Higher Teacher Training College (H.T.T.C.) Bambili of the University of Bamenda-Cameroon. He has been a Part Time lecturer of English Literature in the University of Douala and a visiting lecturer in the Cameroon Christian University (CCU) Bamenda. Cumulatively, Mr Awoh is a PhD researcher at the Department of English in the University of Yaounde I, specialising in English Literary Studies. His research interests include English poetry, Anglophone Cameroon/African Literature as well as inter- disciplinary and inter-cultural perspectives of Literature. He is a member of theFrontiers Research Group.

Table of Contents Acknowledgements…………………………………………. ix Foreword…………………………………………………….. xi Preface……………………………………………………….. xiii Chapter 1 Introduction: The Role of Philosophy in Culture………… 1 Chapter 2 Human Existence and Destiny In The Culture of Secularism –Rethinking Traditional Cultural Values……………………………………………… 25 Chapter 3 The Theocentric and Anthropocentric Foundations of African Ethics…………………………….. 65 Chapter 4 Culture/Culture Divide: An Interrogation Of Politics, Identity and Culture Towards Transcending the Multiculturalism Conundrum………… 87 Chapter 5 Multicultural Education as the Basis for Education for Peace and Good Citizenship In Cameroon………………………………………………… 117 Chapter 6 African Culture and African Philosophy of Education………………………………………….……... 147 Chapter 7 The Reality of Secularism in Africa And Its Effects on Some African Cultural Values….……… 165 vii

Chapter 8 Secularism in the Post-Colonial Cameroon State: A Historical Critique.............................................................191 Chapter 9 The Philosophy and Politics of Identity: Spinoza’s Regional Anthropology…………………………. 221 Chapter 10 Being a Woman in African Culture: How Culture Shapes and Defines The Status of Women………………………………..……… 241 Chapter 11 The Phenomenon of Cultural And National Stereotypes……………………………………….. 267 Chapter 12 Hard-Wired Homosexuality: Towards Excoriating Some Contemporary Justifications For Same-Sex Marriages……………………………………. 289 Chapter 13 Anthropocentric Poetics And The Deconstruction of the God/Man Binary: Humanist Connectives in the Poetry Of Thomas Hardy and Robert Graves………………….……... 317

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Acknowledgements This book is a selection of papers presented at a colloquium organized by the Department of Philosophy of the Higher Teacher Training College (HTTC) Bambili of the University of Bamenda on th the 5 December 2013. We are indebted to The University of Bamenda for the financial assistance without which the colloquium would not have been organized. We thank the Vice Chancellor of The University of Bamenda, Professor Tafah Edocat O. Edward, for his support and encouragement. We are also thankful to the Director of the Higher Teacher Training College (HTTC) Bambili and his deputy, Professors Lukong Cornelius Fai and Shadrack Ambanasom, respectively, under whose institution finances were made available for the organization of the colloquium. We are also profoundly grateful to our colleagues of the Departments of Philosophy of the HTTC Bambili, St Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary (STAMS) Bambui and the Catholic University of Cameroon (CATUC) Bamenda for their moral and intellectual support. These include the following: Dr. Valentine B. Ngalim, Dr. Fidel Tanju, and Mr. Shang Nelson. We sincerely thank all those who participated in the colloquium; especially those who presented papers. This collection would never have seen the light of day without their brilliant inputs. And, last but not the least; we thank Sylvestre Fidesou for type- setting the book.

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