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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:A critique of the concept of quasi-physicalism in Akan philosophy
Author:Majeed, Hasskei Mohammed
Year:2013
Periodical:African Studies Quarterly (ISSN 1093-2658)
Volume:14
Issue:1-2
Pages:23-33
Language:English
Geographic term:Ghana
Subjects:Akan
philosophy
External link:https://asq.africa.ufl.edu/majeed_nov13/
Abstract:An important feature of recent African philosophical works is the attempt by writers to interpret some key concepts from within the context of specific African cultures. The interpretations of such writers, however, particularly in connection with Akan thought, have not been without problems. One such concept is the concept of a person. From the largely general position that a completely physical conception of the person is inconsistent with Akan cultural beliefs, the precise characterization of the non-physical constituent of the human being has been a source of great controversy. An expression that has of recent times been put forward as descriptive of that constituent is the 'quasi-physical'. The notion of quasi-physicalism, which considers as existent objects 'belonging to a category between the realm of the obviously physical, i.e. those objects that obey the known laws of physics, and the realm of the so-called spiritual', is the brainchild of an Akan philosopher, Kwasi Wiredu, and is also strongly held by Safro Kwame, another Akan philosopher. In line with this philosophy, the 'okra' of a living or dead person is deemed to be quasi-physical. This article attempts an explanation of the notion and argues that it is conceptually flawed in diverse ways, and as such philosophically indefensible. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. [Journal abstract]
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