African Philosophy: Traditional Yoruba Philosophy and Contemporary African Realities (American University Studies Series V, Philosophy)

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. Preface Part I Traditional Yoruba Philosophy 1. On the Idea of African Philosophy 2. Enìyàn: The Yoruba Concept of a Person 3. Individuality, Community and the Moral Order 4. Traditional African Religiosity: Myth or Reality? 5. Causality and the Concept of Health and Illness Part II Contemporary African Realities 6. The Concept of Ultimate Reality and Meaning and Contemporary African Realities: The Religious View 7. Contemporary African Realities: The Cultural View 8. Contemporary African Realities: The Politico-Economic View 9. The Ethics and Politics of Work 10. Concluding Remarks: Development and Human Values Endnotes Bibliography Index Segun Gbadegesin. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [283]-294) And Index.