A critique of John S. Mbiti's traditional African ontology

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Periodical article

Title:	A critique of John S. Mbiti's traditional African ontology
Author:	Carew, G. Munda
Year:	1993
Periodical:	Quest: An International African Journal of Philosophy (ISSN 1011-226X)
Volume:	7
Issue:	1
Period:	June
Pages:	78-91
Language:	English
Notes:	biblio. refs.
Geographic terms:	Subsaharan Africa Africa
Subjects:	philosophy African religions Philosophy, Psychology Mbiti, John Belief
Abstract:	In his book 'African religions and philosophy' (1990), John S. Mbiti attempts to provide a unified account of traditional African religions. In order to do this, he presupposes a traditional African world view or ontology which underlies the African's attitude to religion. The present author finds nothing wrong with this view. What he does find problematic, however, is that Mbiti's ontology is borrowed; consequently its application to traditional African religious beliefs gives these beliefs not only a borrowed significance but also, at least on some points, a clearly erroneous view. The author identifies the dominant influences on Mbiti's ontology, viz. empirical theology and Boethius' conception of time. He analyses the implications of Mbiti's ontology, and examines reasons for considering it incoherent. Bibliogr., notes, sum. in French.