Henry odera oruka pdf

Henry odera oruka and the question of methodology in african philosophy. The present paper argues that there is need for further philosophical. This paper examines the contribution of henry odera oruka, a kenyan philosopher, to the discourse on the problem of methodology in african philosophy. Unfortunately, the mother died when he was eight years old.

Henry odera oruka was a good friend and colleague of mine from the time that i taught philosophy alongside him at the university of nairobi in the spring and summer of 1975. Philosophic sagacity and intercultural philosophy mosima, pius document version. Henry odera oruka was born on 1 june 1944 in nyanza province of kenya. Oruka identifies kwasi wiredu, paulin hountondji, oruka odera himself and bodunrin p. Module year of publication title of publication edition publisher chapter. The african philosophy reader peace palace library. Henry odera orukas sage philosophy james garrison 6. For oruka, this shift is described as one from culture philosophy to sage philosophy, the latter deriving its name from the role that oruka sees for sages, these being thinkers who, though embedded within traditional cultures, are able to reflect critically upon those cultures. A critique 193 page 193 of 20 but also, as a matter of methodical duty, to act as the provocateur of the sage oruka 1991. Odera orukas four trends in african philosophy and their implications for education in africa. Hapanyengwichemhuru abstract the late kenyan philosopher, henry odera oruka, identified six schools of thought on what african philosophy is or could be, namely, ethnophilosophy, philosophic sagacity, nationalisticideological philosophy, professional philosophy, hermeneutic philosophy, and artistic or literary philosophy. The sage philosophy project of the late henry odera orukadirectly, which addresses the objections raised against ethnophilosophy, will be a transition to the study of the thought of prominent contemporary african philosophers, such as kwasi wiredu, valentinyves mudimbe, paulin j. Odera oruka is best known for his views on sage philosophy, he spent a considerable portion of his philosophical career agonizing over the question of human rights. In this essay i will be critically discussing henry odera orukas 4 trends of african philosophy, as laid out in his essay, using both my notes on the essay and the study guide as a reference, followed by my thoughts on each trend again supplemented by references from my own notes.

The expression acquired its currency from a project conducted by the late kenyan philosopher henry odera oruka 19441995, whose primary aim was to establish, with evidence, that critical reflection upon themes of fundamental importance has always been. Orukas classifications have received much criticism. He received his undergraduate university education in kenya. Henry odera oruka was born in nyanza province of western kenya in 1944 and died in 1995. H odera orukas four trends in african philosophy when studying orukas classification, keep in mind that he comes from the englishspeaking side and does not represent francophone african philosophy in his classification. Understanding of african philosophy through philosophy for. Of the 37 contributors 33 are black africans speaking for themselves on the topical issues of. It was a project started in the 1970s to preserve the knowledge of the indigenous thinkers in traditional african communities. The classification by this nairobian philosopher odera oruka of different approaches in african. Oruka identified four trendsclassifications of what african philosophy is or could be namely.

This is an excellent and exceptional text that carries oruka s essays and interviews as well as essays on him and his work. Publishers pdf, also known as version of record publication date. What really matters to anyanwu is the formulation of the problem. Tilburg university philosophic sagacity and intercultural. This is undertaken by a comparative appraisal of the late lamented kenyan philosopher henry odera oruka s 19441995 philosophic sagacity, and intercultural philosophy as conceived by dutch intercultural philosopher wim van binsbergen. His father was peter oruka ranginya and his mother dolphine nyangor ngonga. Pdf from llb pls1502 at university of south africa. Pdf odera orukas four trends in african philosophy and. Odera oruka, four trends in current african philosophy. The sage philosophy project began in the mid1970s at the department of philosophy of the university of nairobi kenya. The semantics of sagacity and its implications for 119 odera orukas sage philosophy okoth okombo 8.

The late kenyan philosopher, henry odera oruka, identified six schools of thought on what african philosophy is or could be, namely, ethnophilosophy, philosophic sagacity, nationalisticideological philosophy, professional philosophy, hermeneutic philosophy, and artistic or literary philosophy. A critique find, read and cite all the research you need. Chapter 4 is called philosophical genres and movements in africa. The expression acquired its currency from a project conducted by the late kenyan philosopher henry odera oruka 19441995, whose primary aim was to establish, with evidence, that critical reflection upon themes of fundamental importance has always been the concern of a select few in african societies. Henry odera oruka, ecophilosophy and climate change. This article is within the scope of wikiproject philosophy, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of content related to philosophy on wikipedia. It was a project started in the 1970s in an attempt to preserve the knowledge of the indigenous thinkers in traditional african communities. It is accessible and handy to a wider range of readers, ranging from educators and students of african philosophy, anthropology, african studies, cultural studies, and all those concerned with the further development of african philosophy and thought systems on the african continent.

This is especially regrettable, as his philosophical work had two main objectives. Unfortunately, less known is odera orukas work on ethics. View notes orukafour trends in current african philosophy. Oswell hapanyengwichemhuru, odera orukas four trends in. In the 1970s, kenyan philosopher henry odera oruka undertook a project that came to be known as african sage philosophy. Project muse african philosophy and thought systems. The project involved evaluation of the oral traditions of various communities for knowledge that reflected the values of philosophy that the universalists articulated. The four trends of african philosophy introduced by oruka are. In philosophy in the present situation of africa, edited by alwin diemer. Chapter 3 introduces the now classical fourfold division of african philosophy by henry odera oruka. At uppsala university he registered for a bsc programme in the faculty of mathematicsnatural science and studied meteorology, geography, and geodesy but on his own initiative and interest, he added philosophy.

Problems and challenges of conversation method 71 several factors, like personal sensitivity and commitment to certain problems of experience. Kwasi wiredu, paulin hountondji, abiola irele, henry odera oruka, tsenay serequeberhan, ngugi wa thiongo, lucius outlaw, kwame anthony appiah, ali mazrui and, wole soyinka. Our paper builds on earlier research to show how bimal krishna matilal and henry odera oruka challenge dominant narratives of the westcentered progress of philosophical and other forms of critical rationality. Odera oruka and the question of methodology in african philosophy. Odera oruka on culture philosophy and its role 99 in the s. At the university, henry odera oruka 19441995 popularized the term sage philosophy project, and closely related terms such as philosophic sagacity, both by initiating a project of interviewing african sages, and by naming this project in. The classification by this nairobian philosopher odera oruka of. In what looks like a shift in position, bodunrin alludes to a new conviction that the different understandings of the. Henry odera oruka 1 june 1944, nyanza province 9 december 1995, nairobi was a kenyan philosopher who is best known for sage philosophy.

Henry odera oruka about 20 years before it started to be a central topic in the euroamerican debates of the late 1990s, the kenyan philosopher henry odera oruka 19441995 used the concept of global justice in two key articles, john rawls ideology. African sage philosophy internet encyclopedia of philosophy. Odera orukas sage philosophy project, his definition of philosophy, the method of interviewing sages, and the differentiation between folk and philosophic sages, have been discussed and criticised at length. If you would like to support the project, please visit the project page, where you can get more details on how you can help, and where you can join the general discussion about philosophy content on wikipedia. African sage philosophy stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. After his advanced level studies in kenya, he went to uppsala university in sweden.

Kenyan philosopher henry odera oruka is credited for formulating the four trends of african philosophy and for introducing the notion of philosophic sagacity. Pdf odera orukas account of the foundation of human rights. Pdf on jan 1, 2012, fayemi ademola kazeem and others published henry odera oruka and the question of methodology in african philosophy. History of african philosophy internet encyclopedia of. Odera orukas four trends in african philosophy and. It was a project started in the 1970s in an attempt to preserve the knowledge of the indigenous thinkers in. Henry odera oruka project gutenberg selfpublishing. View notes oruka four trends in current african philosophy. Henry odera oruka 1 june 1944, nyanza province 9 december 1995, nairobi was a kenyan philosopher who is best known for sage philosophy, a project started in the 1970s in an attempt to preserve the knowledge of the indigenous thinkers in traditional african communities. Dec 02, 20 odera oruka s four trends in african philosophy and their implications for education in africa. The first four are the generally well known and well explained schools of african philosophy. African philosophy and thought systems read african books. In this work, i attempt to contribute to the future of african and intercultural philosophy. A breakdown of the major schools of thought in the debate on african philosophy.

A brief introduction to the discourse of african philosophy. Odera oruka, professor of philosophy at university of nairobi, was an active member of the world futures studies federation. Pdf henry odera oruka and the question of methodology in. This is undertaken by a comparative appraisal of the late lamented kenyan philosopher henry odera orukas 19441995 philosophic sagacity, and intercultural philosophy as conceived by dutch intercultural philosopher wim van binsbergen.