how does wiredu’s example of Ghanian funerals illustrate his view about comparing traditional African thought to traditional Western thought?
how should we compare African traditional thought to Western thought?
we should not fixate on traditional (pre-scientific) thought as defining a peculiarly African way of thinking
what does wiredu think about African traditional thought in general
wiredu thinks that African folk thought should be compared to western folk thought
- western thought and traditional African thought cannot be compared because they are not the same sort of entity
- there is a false assumption being made that African thought is distinguished by its pre-scientific, spiritual thought—- it is false because, non-scientific traditional thought is typical of every culture, religion, moral, and political beliefs seem to remain strongholds of irrationality in the west and everywhere else
- we should not fixate on traditional thought as appealing to a comparison
how does wiredu’s example of Ghanian funerals illustrate his view about comparing traditional African thought to traditional Western thought?
- elaborate funerals in Ghana are expensive, time consuming, and people often have to take several days off of work and borrow money.
- this practice has been unaffected by the influence of christianity
- wiredu suggests that the solution must be bottom up, a top down approach does not work because the leaders themselves engage in these cultural practices
- shows how despite modernization and progress, and the widespread influence of christianity, some African traditional thought remains independent and is therefore a separate entity
particularism
- philosophy is broadly defined
- African philosophy is “African” only if its content is African (restricted to african pre-colonial traditions, myths, proverbs)
- so African philosophy is broadly a criticism of African pre-colonial traditions, myths, and proverbs that we should live by
universalism
- philosophy is more narrowly defined than particularists claim (concerned with assertions, justifications, and explanations)
- African philosophy is “African” only if its content is universally philosophical (African traditions, proverbs, and myths can be criticized and reconstructed)
- So, African philosophy is narrowly defined as being concerned with the parts of African traditions proverbs and myths that can be criticized and reconstructed
- universalists hold a narrower view of philosophy, are less inclusive of African traditional thought, but more inclusive of cross-cultural use and criticism
what reasons does bello give in favor of universalism to particularism
- when we investigate a philosophical tradition we look at texts from the people of that origin
- we do not look at myths, folklore, religion, tales, and governance
- so it would not make sense to take African traditional thought as representative of African philosophical thought
