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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:The ontological status of African folk-philosophy
Author:Okolo, ChukwudumISNI
Year:1995
Periodical:Quest: An International African Journal of Philosophy (ISSN 1011-226X)
Volume:9
Issue:1
Period:June
Pages:106-115
Language:English
Notes:biblio. refs.
Geographic terms:Subsaharan Africa
Africa
Subjects:philosophy
ethnophilosophy
Philosophy, Psychology
Tradition
Abstract:Folk or ethnophilosophy can be briefly defined as the collective, uncritical view(s) of a people, their traditional world view or outlook in life. This type of philosophy has always existed in Africa. Such folk philosophy is communal. It is largely dogmatic and noncritical, essentially holistic, and tends to be mythical as opposed to scientific. Perhaps the most important characteristic of folk or ethnophilosophy is wisdom. Folk philosophy has its own distinctive ontological status and can be seen to provide a cultural base for critical, scientific philosophy. However, traditional experience or world view, what folk philosophy is all about, can neither be the limit nor the totality of African philosophy. African philosophy which is a critical reflection on African experience must be a totality of African experience, including the present and the future, not just the past. Notes, ref.
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