Philosophy in an African place
By: Bruce B. Janz
Edition: 1st pbk. ed.
Publisher: Lexington Books
Published: 2012
Place of publication: Lanham, Md
Language: eng
Number of pages: 272
ISBN-13: 9780739136690
Subjects: African Philosophy
Description: Over the past few decades, there has been much effort put forth by philosophers to answer the question, "Is there an African philosophy?" Bruce B. Janz boldly changes this central question to "What is it to do philosophy in this (African) place?" in Philosophy in an African Place. Janz argues that African philosophy has spent a lot of time trying to define what African philosophy is, and in doing so has ironically been unable to properly conceptualize African lived experience. He goes on to claim that such conceptualization can only occur when the central question is changed from the spatial to a new, platial one. Philosophy in an African Place both opens up new questions within the field, and also establishes "philosophy-in-place", a mode of philosophy which begins from the places in which concepts have currency and shows how a truly creative philosophy can emerge from focusing on questioning, listening, and attending to difference. This innovative new approach to African philosophy will be useful not only to African and African-American philosophers, but also to scholars interested in any cultural, intercultural, or national philosophical projects. -- Back cover.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Introduction: Philosophy-in-place; title: Tradition in the periphery; title: Questioning reason; title: "Wisdom is actually thought"; title: Culture and the problem of universality; title: Listening to language; title: Practicality : African philosophy's debts and duties; title: Locating African philosophy.