African-Oriented and Euro-American-Oriented World Views: Research Methodologies and Economics

Abstract

This paper has shown two things. First, it has indicated some of the philosophical ways in which a “pure” African-oriented world view differs in kind from the “pure” Euro-American-oriented one. Second, it has set forth some of their respective differences in research methodology, primarily focusing on the area of economics. However, neither of these world views and, therefore, their research methodologies have absolute validity. Each can claim validity only under its respective limiting conditions. In the words of Kuhn, “truth may, like proof, be a term with only intra-theoretic applications.” In effect, no interworld view comparison can or should be made in terms of absolute correspondence to reality. However, overseas Africans in America do embody both world views in varying degrees. Researchers on black people, therefore, must be familiar with both methodologies in order to analyze completely the behavior of Afro-Americans.