A recapitulation of paulin hountondji s african philosophy. Since the 1970s he has taught at the universite nationale du benin in cotonou, where he is professor of philosophy. The most devastating critique came from paulin hountondji, a french trained philosopher and husserl scholar from benin. It is part of the paulin hountondji tour initiated by the globalisation studies groningen gsg programme at the university of groningen, the prince claus fund for culture and development pcf and the university of munster. Receive email notifications on new books and special sales. One of the most discussed papers in african philosophy is paulin. The eleven papers in this anthology all by africans, represent a variety of philosophical positions that are central to the debate in and on african philosophy as it has developed thus far. The american version of his book philosophie africaine. Paulin hountondji, the beninese philosopher, is best known for african philosophy. To this colour of minds, the outcome of the second congress of negro. In the early 1990s he briefly served as minister of education and minister for culture and communications in. The folds in paulin hountondji s african philosophy, myth and reality article pdf available in philosophical papers 391.
Myth and reality african systems of thought 2 by paulin j. Paulin hountondji on philosophy and decolonisation. Hountondji attacks a myth popularized by ethnophilosophers such as. Reflections on philosophy, culture, and democracy in africa ohio ris africa series 9780896802254 by hountondji, paulin j. During the extraordinarily intense debates on the future trajectory of modern african philosophy at the dawn of african independence, paulin j hountondji, along with the likes of kwasi wiredu of ghana, henry odera oruka of kenya and peter o bodunrin of nigeriaa group. Reflections on philosophy, culture, and democracy in africa ohio. Paulin hountondji, african philosophy, myth and reality 1974. The book is part of the 100 best african books of the 20th century selected in accra in the year 2000. In the early 1990s he briefly served as minister of education and minister for culture and communications in the government of benin. Hountondji and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Myth and reality african systems of thought 9780253210968.
All our physical stores and our online store are temporarily closed. The folds in paulin hountondjis african philosophy, myth and reality article pdf available in philosophical papers 391. Paulin hountondji, african philosophy, myth and reality. Paulin hountondji, africian philosophy, and philosophical methodology.
Myth and reality african systems of thought 2nd edition by hountondji, paulin j. Paulin j hountondji in this incisive, original exploration of the nature and future of african philosophy, paulin j. Hountondji attacks a myth popularized by ethnophilosophers such as placide tempels and alexis kagame that there. Bloomington, indiana university press samuel oluoch imbo an introduction to african philosophy 1998. In a series of articles, later collated into a book, african philosophy. An african philosopher in germany in the eighteenth century. The meaning and nature of african philosophy in a globalising world. Used books may not include companion materials, may have some shelf wear, may contain highlightingnotes. With his sharp and argumentative style of writing and with his outspoken position.
John contehmorgan is a professor in the department of french and italian and african and african american studies at. With this criticism hountondji started an ongoing debate about the status of african philosophy, the status and value of ethnophilosophy, and the position of placide tempels in african philosophy. Paulin hountondji, african philosophy, and philosophical. Hountondjis deep understanding of any civilization as necessarily pluralistic, and often even selfcontradicting as it evolves, is simply magisterial. African sage philosophy stanford encyclopedia of philosophy.
Choice in this incisive, original exploration of the nature and future of african philosophy, paulin j. Footmarks on african philosophy in searchworks catalog. Hountondji attacks a myth popularized by ethnophilosophers such as placide tempels and alexis kagame. Paulin hountondji is one of the most prominent african philosophers of the last fifty years.
Hountondji attacks a myth popularized by ethnophilosophers such as placide temples and alexis kagame that there is an indigenous, collective african philosophy, separate and distinct from the western philosophical tradition. Clarence shole johnson 1998 southern journal of philosophy 36 2. Hountondji translated from the french by henri evans with the collaboration of. Hountondji was born in the ivory coast, and received his higher education in paris, where he was a pupil of althusser in the middle 1960 s. The six best books on african philosophy the daily idea. This public lecture is hosted by the crg politics, governance and law in africa at the african studies centre leiden. In his new book, left universalism, africacentric essays, the ghanaian philosopher ato sekyiotu writes that against the fashionable particularism of our times hountondji. This is a precious gem of a book for anyone who wishes to reflect on civilization and culture. Hountondji contends that ideological manifestations of this view that stress the. His critique of ethnophilosophy as a colonial, exoticising and racialized undertaking provoked contentious debates among african intellectuals on the proper methods and scope of philosophy and science in an african and global context since the 1970s. Apart from his highly influential book, african philosophy. Myth and reality, by paulin hountondji, which was published by hutchinson in june 1983. It leaves the task of conservation to matter books, documents, archives, etc.
Hountondji attacks a myth popularized by ethnophilosophers such as placide tempels and alexis kagame that there is an indigenous, collective african philosophy separate and distinct from the western philosophical tradition. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Anton wilhelm amo the end of nkrumaism and the rebirth of nkrumah the idea of philosophy in nkrumahs consciencism true and. Rereading of paulin hountondji, african philosophy, myth and reality, thought and practice nairobi, kenya 1. African sage philosophy is the name now commonly given to the body of thought produced by persons considered wise in african communities, and more specifically refers to those who seek a rational foundation for ideas and concepts used to describe and view the world by critically examining the justification of those ideas and concepts. Ozumba the place of oral tradition in african epistemology a.
Myth and reality, hountondji exposed as unwarranted a number of temples assumptions. The reader may also wish to include the present book and some. Maurice muhatia makumba 2007 paulines publications africa. The article printed below is extracted from african philosophy. The meaning and nature of african philosophy in a globalising. Hountondji was born in the ivory coast, and received his higher education in paris, where he was a pupil of althusser in the middle 1960s. Aug 25, 2011 in this incisive, original exploration of the nature and future of african philosophy, paulin j. Faculty of philosophy, oude boteringestraat 52 attendance. He is the director of the african centre of higher education in portonovo. The folds in paulin hountondjis african philosophy, myth.
Myth and reality 1976, which included his compelling insights on ethnophilosophy, nkrumahs philosophy of consciencism, and amos philosophical dilemmas and metaphilosophical questionsand which was named one of africas 100 best books of the 20th century in 2000 hountondji. Myth and reality, one of the most influential books on african philosophy. The politics of literature in colonial africa 1988, a. In this seminal exploration of the nature and future of african philosophy, paulin j. Paulin hountondji born 11 april 1942 in abidjan, cote divoire is a beninese philosopher, politician and academic. Myth and reality african systems of thought by paulin j.
Uduigwomen the nature, function and logic of myth andrew f. African philosophy, second edition indiana university press. Myth and reality, first published in french in 1976 and now considered a classic text in philosophy. Thought about thought african philosophy, myth and reality. Hountondji attacks a myth popularized by ethnophilosophers such as placide tempels and alexis kagame that there is an indigenous, collective african philosophy separate and. Feminism and nationalism in the third world 1986, by kumari jayawardena. This book was first published in french in 1976, and its. In this incisive, original exploration of the nature and future of african philosophy, paulin j. The quest to establish a worldclass african philosophical. What you should know about contemporary african philosophy. African philosopher should learn from the traditions, tales, myths and proverbs of his people, so as to draw from them the laws of a true african wisdom complementary to the other forms.
Hountondji is one of the most important and controversial figures in contemporary african philosophy. African philosophy as critical humanism franziska dubgen and stefan skupien palgrave macmillan, 2019. Paulin hountondji is a beninese philosopher, politician and academic. Paragon house, home of books that make a difference. Paulin j hountondji in this seminal exploration of the nature and future of african philosophy, paulin j. Indiana university press, 1983 was awarded the herskovits prize in 1984. Imperialism, the highest stage of capitalism 1916, by lenin. Pdf paulin hountondji, african philosophy, myth and reality.
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