African Philosophy: Traditional Yoruba Philosophy and Contemporary African Realities

TLDR

The debate over the existence of African philosophy has long dominated African philosophical discourse, stalling the development of a distinct tradition. The book aims to present a novel approach that integrates traditional and contemporary aspects of African philosophy by examining the issues they raise. The author first analyzes Yoruba concepts of personhood, individuality, community, morality, religiosity, and causality, then applies a philosophical lens to contemporary African social, political, and economic realities.

Abstract

The question whether or not there is African philosophy has, for too long, dominated the philosophical scene in Africa, to the neglect of substantive issues generated by the very fact of human existence. This has unfortunately led to an impasse in the development of a distinctive African philosophical tradition. In this path-breaking book, Segun Gbadegesin offers a new and promising approach which recognizes the traditional and contemporary facets of African philosophy by exploring the issues they raise. In Part I, the author examines, with refreshing insights, the philosophical concepts of the person, individuality, community and morality, religiosity and causality, focusing on the Yoruba of Nigeria. Part II discusses, in an original way, contemporary African social, political and economic realities from a philosophical perspective.