In Defence of a 'Problem-Centric' Research Agenda for African Philosophy

Abstract

Over the years, African philosophy has contentiously centred on the philosophical history of its existence, its possibility and effort by its protagonists to show a body of literature that can be representative models of a corpus of discourses that can be called African philosophy. There is little problem in this. However, not much has been offered as a body of philosophical inquiry that interfaces the existential problems and challenges of the African society of today. Today’s African is blighted with a plethora of problems in search of solution for her development and progress. It is in dire need of a problem-solving philosophy, one that this paper has called a “problem-centric philosophy.” The paper has relied on the articulations of Karl Popper that the philosopher should be a student of problems and not a student of subject matters. Consequently, it argues for a problem-centric approach and agenda for African philosophy; one that is hoisted on as well as goes beyond the existing African philosophy, one that we have called an “archaeological excavation” of philosophical elements from the intellectual chests of the African past. The new problem-centric philosophy we proposed is a refinement of existing African philosophy. This philosophy will be one that is built upon the contemporary social foundation and milieu of Africa such as suggested by the African Union. The conclusion is thus reached that an interdisciplinary approach with the social sciences and other fields of inquiries will be needed for doing a problem-centric African philosophy.