Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

Toward an African Theory of Knowledge

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
African Metaphysics, Epistemology and a New Logic

Abstract

This chapter carries out a decolonial study in epistemology. Our argument is that African epistemology exists as a branch of African philosophy and that it varies from other epistemologies in terms of method and background logic. This contention is necessitated by the fact that there continues to be some doubt on the possibility of other branches of African philosophy even after the affirmation of the existence of African philosophy. The argument is that knowledge and human knowing faculties are the same everywhere; hence, there is no need for a distinct epistemological system and theory called African epistemology. The preceding has been countered by some African philosophers who argue that, inasmuch as African philosophy exists as a separate tradition from other philosophies, African epistemology as one of its branches must also exist. We go beyond this sentiment to argue that what we call African epistemology is epistemology from an African perspective. It is a contribution from the African philosophical tradition to the theory of knowledge, and its principles and ideas are universalizable. We survey a handful of contributions in the literature and show the methodological and logical nuances that make epistemology in African philosophy different from epistemology in other philosophical traditions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
€34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
EUR 29.95
Price includes VAT (Germany)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
EUR 93.08
Price includes VAT (Germany)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
EUR 117.69
Price includes VAT (Germany)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
EUR 117.69
Price includes VAT (Germany)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

') var buybox = document.querySelector("[data-id=id_"+ timestamp +"]").parentNode var buyingOptions = buybox.querySelectorAll(".buying-option") ;[].slice.call(buyingOptions).forEach(initCollapsibles) var buyboxMaxSingleColumnWidth = 480 function initCollapsibles(subscription, index) { var toggle = subscription.querySelector(".buying-option-price") subscription.classList.remove("expanded") var form = subscription.querySelector(".buying-option-form") var priceInfo = subscription.querySelector(".price-info") var buyingOption = toggle.parentElement if (toggle && form && priceInfo) { toggle.setAttribute("role", "button") toggle.setAttribute("tabindex", "0") toggle.addEventListener("click", function (event) { var expandedBuyingOptions = buybox.querySelectorAll(".buying-option.expanded") var buyboxWidth = buybox.offsetWidth ;[].slice.call(expandedBuyingOptions).forEach(function(option) { if (buyboxWidth buyboxMaxSingleColumnWidth) { toggle.click() } else { if (index === 0) { toggle.click() } else { toggle.setAttribute("aria-expanded", "false") form.hidden = "hidden" priceInfo.hidden = "hidden" } } }) } initialStateOpen() if (window.buyboxInitialised) return window.buyboxInitialised = true initKeyControls() })()

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    Social epistemology, according to Didier N. Kaphagawani and Jeanette G. Malherbe, is an epistemology “deliberately situated in a particular cultural context” (2003: 262). This can mean an epistemology or theory of knowledge that is culturally and socially contextualized and defined.

  2. 2.

    The fact is that EP sees approaches to knowledge or studying reality as things that are relative to philosophical places. This is, however, not the type of relativism that makes knowledge culture-bound. Chimakonam (2019) distinguishes relativism from relativity. The latter for him allows for knowledge generated from a particular philosophical place to be universalizable (in terms of being applicable outside where it is generated). EP can be read in terms of relativity rather than relativism. It should be noted that relativism absolutizes and restricts knowledge in/to a particular place and this is not good for the epistemological enterprise, whereas relativity gives room for knowledge to be progressive and transcultural. On the basis of relativity, African epistemology is cultural in origin but transcultural in terms of application.

  3. 3.

    This has been well articulated by Chimakonam (2015a, b, 2019).

  4. 4.

    This thought that Tavernaro-Haidarian pushes forward is grounded in Jonathan O. Chimakonam’s method of conversational thinking (2015c, d, 2017a, b).

  5. 5.

    Ethno-epistemology is a community-owned theory of knowledge or community thought on knowledge. This is an offshoot of ethnophilosophy.

References

  • Abanuka, B. 2011. A History of African Philosophy. Enugu: Spiritan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anyanwu, K.C. 1984. The African Worldview and Theory of Knowledge. In African Philosophy: An Introduction to the Main Philosophical Trends in Contemporary Africa, ed. E.A. Ruch and K.C. Anyanwu, 77–99. Rome: Catholic Book Agency.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bedu-Addo, J.T. 1985. On the Concept of Truth in Akan. In African Philosophy: Trends and Perspectives, ed. Peter Bodunrin, 68–90. Ile-Ife: The University Press of Ife.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bodunrin, P. 1984. The Question of African Philosophy. In African Philosophy: An Introduction, ed. R.A. Wright, 1–24. Lanham: University Press of America.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 1991. The Question of African Philosophy. In African Philosophy: The Essential Readings, ed. T. Serequeberhan, 63–86. New York: Paragon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chimakonam, J.O. 2015a. Addressing Uduma’s Africanness of a Philosophy Question and Shifting the Paradigm from Metaphilosophy to Conversational Philosophy. Filosofia Theoretica: Journal of African Philosophy, Culture and Religions 4 (1): 33–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 2015b. The Criteria Question in Africa Philosophy: Escape from the Horns of Jingoism and Afrocentrism. In Atuolu Omotiu: Some Unanswered Questions in Contemporary African Philosophy, ed. J.O. Chimakonam, 101–124. Maryland: University Press of America.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 2015c. Conversational Philosophy as a New School of Thought in African Philosophy: A Conversation with Bruce Janz on the Concept of Philosophical Space. Confluence: Online Journal of World Philosophies. 9–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 2015d. Transforming the African Philosophical Place Through Conversations: An Inquiry into the Global Expansion of Thought (GET). South African Journal of Philosophy 34 (4): 462–479.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ———. 2017a. The Question of African Logic: Beyond Apologia and Polemics. In The Palgrave Handbook of African Philosophy, ed. Adeshina Afolayan and Toyin Falola, 106–128. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 2017b. Conversationalism as an Emerging Method of Thinking in and Beyond African Philosophy. Acta Academica 47 (2): 11–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 2018. The Philosophy of African Logic: A Consideration of Ezumezu Paradigm. In Philosophical Perceptions on Logic and Order, ed. Jeremy Horne, 96–121. Hershey: IGI Global.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • ———. 2019. Ezumezu: A System of Logic for African Philosophy and Studies. Cham: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chimakonam, J.O., and U.O. Egbai. 2016. The Value of Conversational Thinking in Building a Decent World: The Perspective of Post-Colonial Sub-Saharan Africa. Dialogue and Universalism XXVI (4): 105–117.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Egbai, U.O. 2018. Why African Philosophers Should Build Systems: An Exercise in Conversational Thinking. Filosofia Theoretica: Journal of African Philosophy, Culture and Religions 7 (1): 34–52. https://doi.org/10.4314/ft.v7i1.2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Egbai, U.O., and J.O. Chimakonam. 2019. Why Conversational Thinking Could Be an Alternative Method for Intercultural Philosophy. Journal of Intercultural Studies 40 (2): 172–189.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ekarika, J.B., and Rosemary N. Edet. 1984. From Nature to Divine: An Introduction to the Study of Religions. Roma: Citta Nouva Della Pamom.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hallen, B. 1998a. Moral Epistemology When Propositions Comes Out of Mouths: Reply to Oke. International Philosophical Quarterly XXXVIII: 2.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 1998b. Yoruba Epistemology. Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy 9.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 2005. Yoruba Moral Epistemology. In A Companion to African of Philosophy, ed. K. Wiredu, 296–303. Malden: Blackwell Publishing.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Hallen, B., and J.O. Sodipo. 1986. Knowledge, Belief and Witchcraft Analytic Experiments in African Philosophy. London: Ethnographica Ltd.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hountondji, P. 1996. African Philosophy: Myth and Reality. Bloomington: Indiana University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ijiomah, C.O. 1996. Humanizing Epistemology. Owerri: A. P. Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ikhane, P.A. 2017. Epistemic Insight from an African Way of Knowing. In Themes, Issues and Problems of African Philosophy, ed. I.E. Ukpokolo, 136–144. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Iwe, N.S.S. 1996. Foreword to Chris O. Ijiomah’s Humanizing Epistemology, iv–vi. Owerri: A. P. Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jimoh, A.K. 2017. An African Theory of Knowledge. In Themes, Issues and Problems of African Philosophy, ed. I.E. Ukpokolo, 121–135. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • John, E.O. 2009. African Epistemology. In From Footmarks to Landmarks in African Philosophy, ed. A.F. Uduigwomen, 160–168. Lagos: O. O. P.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaphagawani, D.N., and J.G. Malherbe. 2003. Epistemology and the Tradition in Africa – Introduction: African Epistemology. In The African Philosophy Reader, ed. P.H. Coetzee and A.P.J. Roux, 259–270. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marcel, Griaule. 1965. Conversations with Ogotemmeli. London: Oxford University Press fir the International African Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nasseem, Subairi’B. 2003. African Heritage and Contemporary Life. In The African Philosophy Reader, ed. P.H. Coetzee and A.P.J. Roux, 304–317. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ndubuisi, E.J.O. 2014. The Nature and Function of Logic in African Epistemology. JOSR: Journal of Humanities and Social Science 19 (11): 32–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ogot, Grace. 1968. The African Writer. East Africa Journal. 5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oguah, B. 1984. African and Western Philosophy: A Comparative Study. In African Philosophy: An Introduction, ed. R.A. Wright, 195–214. Lanham: University Press of America.

    Google Scholar 

  • Onyewuenyi, I. C. 1991. Is There an African Philosophy? In African Philosophy: The Essential Readings, ed. Tsenay Serequeberhan, 29–46. New York: Paragon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oruka, H.O. 1991. Sage Philosophy: Indigenous African Thinkers and Modern Debate on African Philosophy. Nairobi: ACTS.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pollock, J.L. 1987. Contemporary Theories of Knowledge. London: Century Hutchinson Ltd.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramose, M. 2003. The Philosophy of Ubuntu and Ubuntu as a Philosophy. In The African Philosophy Reader, ed. P.H. Coetzee and A.P.J. Roux, 270–280. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roy, P.K. 1986. African Theory of Knowledge (Epistemology). The Nigerian Journal of Philosophy 6 (1 and 2): 1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Senghor, L.S. 1956. African-Negro Asthetics. Diogenes 16: 23–38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ———. 1962. Negrohood: Psychology of the African Negro. Diogenes 37: 1–15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ———. 1964. African Socialism. London: Fredrick A. Praeger Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tavernaro-Haidarian, L. 2018. Deliberative Epistemology: Towards an Ubuntu-Based Epistemology that Accounts for a Prior Knowledge and Objective Truth. South African Journal of Philosophy. 37 (2): 229–242.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tempels, P. 1959. Bantu Philosophy. Paris: Presence Africane.

    Google Scholar 

  • Udefi, A. 2014. Rationale for an African Epistemology: A Critical Examination of the Igbo Views on Knowledge, Belief, and Justification. Canadian Social Science. 10 (3): 108–117.

    Google Scholar 

  • Uduigwomen, A.F. 2009. The Place of Oral Tradition in African Epistemology. In From Footmarks to Landmarks in African Philosophy, ed. A.F. Uduigwomen, 169–176. Lagos: O. O. P.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vitek, B., and W. Jackson. 2008. Taking Ignorance Seriously. In The Virtues of Ignorance, ed. B. Vitek and W. Jackson, 9. The University Press of Kentucky: Lexington.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiredu, K. 1980. Philosophy and an African Culture. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 1985. The Concept in the Akan Language. In African Philosophy: Trends and Perspectives, ed. P. Bodunrin, 43–55. Ile-Ife: The University Press of Ife.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Philosophy, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa

    Jonathan O. Chimakonam & L. Uchenna Ogbonnaya

Authors
  1. Jonathan O. Chimakonam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. L. Uchenna Ogbonnaya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jonathan O. Chimakonam .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Chimakonam, J.O., Ogbonnaya, L.U. (2021). Toward an African Theory of Knowledge. In: African Metaphysics, Epistemology and a New Logic. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-72445-0_8

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics