Introduction to African Legal Philosophy
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Incorporated
Published: 2013
Language: eng
Number of pages: 238
ISBN-13: 9780739174661
Subjects: Law, africa; Law, philosophy
Description: "In An Introduction to African Legal Philosophy, the link between law and philosophy is brought into relief through an African context. Whereas most books in legal philosophy focus attention on law, what is distinctive about this book is that John Murungi pays equal attention to philosophy. He investigates what is African about legal philosophy in particular and what is African about philosophy in general. This is done in a way that sets African legal philosophy apart from non-African legal philosophy while, at the same time, highlighting how African philosophy differs from non-African philosophy. Because an African is a human being among other human beings, neither African legal philosophy nor African philosophy is completely cut off from non-African legal philosophy or non-African philosophy. Accordingly, a basic component of African legal philosophy consists of an investigation of what it is to be African.^

This investigation ultimately leads to an examination of what it is to be a human being. In other words, a philosophical theory of law is inescapably a theory of what it is to be a human being. It is an Ubuntu theory. Ubuntuism is an African-derived word that captures the mode of being human. It sheds light on the diversity of human beings as well as the unity of human beings. Because human beings are cultural beings, African cultural context guides the investigation in this book. Inevitably, every legal philosophy is embedded in a culture. African legal philosophy is no exception. It is deeply rooted in African culture - a culture that is shaped today, in part, by a European colonialist culture. A prominent feature of this book is its approach to African legal philosophy as a means of decolonization of African culture.^

African legal philosophy can accomplish this intelligently and effectively if it is itself decolonized - a process that is an essential aspect in the decolonization of African philosophy in general. This process contrasts sharply with what takes place in mainstream Western legal philosophy and in Wester philosophy in general. The liberating insights in this book will be most valuable to those working within legal philosophy, African philosophy, African American philosophy, African studies, cultural studies, African cultural anthropology, comparative legal studies, legal pluralism, critical race theory, critical legal studies, and African feminist legal studies"--Page [4] of cover.