discuss critically oruka’s four trends of african philosophy in your view
which trends characterizes african philosophy properly and why
Written for
University of South Africa (Unisa)
PLS1502 - Introduction To African Philosophy (PLS1502)
All documents for this subject (108)
Seller
Follow
StuddyScene
Reviews received
Content preview
Discuss critically Oruka’s four trends of African philosophy. In your view,
which trends characterizes African philosophy properly and why?
ANSWER:
Introduction
This essay attempts to critically discuss Henry Odera Oruka’s four trends of African
philosophy. In doing so, it shall attempt to structure the discourse on African philosophy by
categorising Oruka’s four trends as follows. (1) ethnophilosophy; (2) philosophic sagacity
(sage philosophy); (3) nationalist-ideological philosophy; and (4) professional philosophy.
Scholars such as Hountondji, Wiredu and Bodunrin suggest the answer to an authentic
African philosophy lies in the method of writing and presenting African philosophy, by
following an analytic or scientific method thus taking Western Philosophy as the “yardstick”
against which to do African philosophy, or do we simply study, analyse and interpret the
thoughts, myths, proverbs and cultures of Africans as suggested by Anyanwu, Imbo and
Mbiti.
These definitions clearly illustrate the philosophical divide between the universalists and
African traditionalists, and it is against this back drop that Oruka identified a thought on
what African philosophy is or could be through his famous trends which will be discussed.
Ethnophilosophy:
It is based on the presupposition that African philosophy and European philosophy are
each of a fundamentally different nature. European philosophy is characterized by logic
and individuality on the contrary African philosophy is communal and based on emotion
and intuition. It deals much with the beliefs found in African cultures, which is identified
with the folk philosophy as manifest in tales, customs, poems, taboos, songs, dances,
religions, etc. One of the greatest inadequacies of ethnophilosophy is that it is derived
from the uncritical aspects of African philosophy. Where the critical parts are works of
individual man, and women, philosophers, poets, etcetera, and the uncritical parts
constitutes of beliefs and activities found in religion, legend, folk tales, customs,
superstition, etc.
Sage philosophy / Philosophic Sagacity:
These are the ideas of African sages on selected philosophical issues. These are the
thoughts of sages, individual men and women who live in the traditional society, are versed
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller StuddyScene. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $2.86. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
