PLS1501
Assignment 1 Semester 1 2026
Unique number:
Due date: March 2026
QUESTION 1
Philosophy, in the broad sense, is the disciplined search for wisdom about reality,
knowledge, ethics, politics and what it means to be human. It asks basic questions, tests
reasons, and tries to make our beliefs clearer and more justifiable. It is not owned by one
region or one people. It arises wherever human beings reflect critically on life, society,
power, suffering and meaning, including in Africa, long before modern universities in
South Africa existed.
Western philosophy is a specific historical tradition within philosophy. It grew mainly from
European intellectual history and was shaped by Europe’s social and political projects,
including conquest, colonial expansion and the making of racial categories (Day, 2008).
Study Unit 1 shows that many “great” Western thinkers helped to build, justify, or
normalise ideas that later supported racism, even when they also produced valuable
concepts and methods (Eze, 1997; Serequeberhan, 2007; Gordon, 2007; Mills, 1997).
DISCLAIMER & TERMS OF USE
Educational Aid: These study notes are intended to be used as educational resources and should not be seen
as a replacement for individual research, critical analysis, or professional consultation. Students are encouraged
to perform their own research and seek advice from their instructors or academic advisors for specific
assignment guidelines.
Personal Responsibility: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the
information in these study notes, the seller does not guarantee the completeness or correctness of all content.
The buyer is responsible for verifying the accuracy of the information and exercising their own judgment when
applying it to their assignments.
Academic Integrity: It is essential for students to maintain academic integrity and follow their institution's
policies regarding plagiarism, citation, and referencing. These study notes should be used as learning tools and
sources of inspiration. Any direct reproduction of the content without proper citation and acknowledgment may
be considered academic misconduct.
Limited Liability: The seller shall not be liable for any direct or indirect damages, losses, or consequences
arising from the use of these notes. This includes, but is not limited to, poor academic performance, penalties, or
any other negative consequences resulting from the application or misuse of the information provided.
, QUESTION 1
Philosophy, in the broad sense, is the disciplined search for wisdom about reality,
knowledge, ethics, politics and what it means to be human. It asks basic questions,
tests reasons, and tries to make our beliefs clearer and more justifiable. It is not
owned by one region or one people. It arises wherever human beings reflect critically
on life, society, power, suffering and meaning, including in Africa, long before
modern universities in South Africa existed.
Western philosophy is a specific historical tradition within philosophy. It grew mainly
from European intellectual history and was shaped by Europe’s social and political
projects, including conquest, colonial expansion and the making of racial categories
(Day, 2008). Study Unit 1 shows that many “great” Western thinkers helped to build,
justify, or normalise ideas that later supported racism, even when they also produced
valuable concepts and methods (Eze, 1997; Serequeberhan, 2007; Gordon, 2007;
Mills, 1997). Western philosophy in South Africa was also institutionalised through
settler education systems that copied European curricula and norms, often ignoring
the local context and the lived experience of the conquered majority (Phillips, 2003;
Mazrui, 1978).
Failing to distinguish between philosophy and Western philosophy creates serious
problems in study and teaching. First, it produces a false universalism, where
Western ideas are presented as “neutral” or “the human standard”, while African
thought is treated as optional, secondary, or placed in separate spaces such as
African Studies (Mills, 1998). Second, it hides the political role that philosophy can
play in supporting injustice. Study Unit 1 shows philosophy departments and
academics sometimes justified racial separation, apartheid, or censorship, even
when claiming to be “above politics” (More, 2004; Barnes, 2015). Third, the lack of
distinction fuels epistemic injustice: African philosophy is excluded or ignored, and
learners from historically oppressed groups are pushed to see their own knowledge
systems as inferior or irrelevant (Ramose, 2002).
In my view, making the distinction is not about rejecting Western philosophy. It is
about locating it historically, naming its limits, and opening the curriculum to African
Assignment 1 Semester 1 2026
Unique number:
Due date: March 2026
QUESTION 1
Philosophy, in the broad sense, is the disciplined search for wisdom about reality,
knowledge, ethics, politics and what it means to be human. It asks basic questions, tests
reasons, and tries to make our beliefs clearer and more justifiable. It is not owned by one
region or one people. It arises wherever human beings reflect critically on life, society,
power, suffering and meaning, including in Africa, long before modern universities in
South Africa existed.
Western philosophy is a specific historical tradition within philosophy. It grew mainly from
European intellectual history and was shaped by Europe’s social and political projects,
including conquest, colonial expansion and the making of racial categories (Day, 2008).
Study Unit 1 shows that many “great” Western thinkers helped to build, justify, or
normalise ideas that later supported racism, even when they also produced valuable
concepts and methods (Eze, 1997; Serequeberhan, 2007; Gordon, 2007; Mills, 1997).
DISCLAIMER & TERMS OF USE
Educational Aid: These study notes are intended to be used as educational resources and should not be seen
as a replacement for individual research, critical analysis, or professional consultation. Students are encouraged
to perform their own research and seek advice from their instructors or academic advisors for specific
assignment guidelines.
Personal Responsibility: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the
information in these study notes, the seller does not guarantee the completeness or correctness of all content.
The buyer is responsible for verifying the accuracy of the information and exercising their own judgment when
applying it to their assignments.
Academic Integrity: It is essential for students to maintain academic integrity and follow their institution's
policies regarding plagiarism, citation, and referencing. These study notes should be used as learning tools and
sources of inspiration. Any direct reproduction of the content without proper citation and acknowledgment may
be considered academic misconduct.
Limited Liability: The seller shall not be liable for any direct or indirect damages, losses, or consequences
arising from the use of these notes. This includes, but is not limited to, poor academic performance, penalties, or
any other negative consequences resulting from the application or misuse of the information provided.
, QUESTION 1
Philosophy, in the broad sense, is the disciplined search for wisdom about reality,
knowledge, ethics, politics and what it means to be human. It asks basic questions,
tests reasons, and tries to make our beliefs clearer and more justifiable. It is not
owned by one region or one people. It arises wherever human beings reflect critically
on life, society, power, suffering and meaning, including in Africa, long before
modern universities in South Africa existed.
Western philosophy is a specific historical tradition within philosophy. It grew mainly
from European intellectual history and was shaped by Europe’s social and political
projects, including conquest, colonial expansion and the making of racial categories
(Day, 2008). Study Unit 1 shows that many “great” Western thinkers helped to build,
justify, or normalise ideas that later supported racism, even when they also produced
valuable concepts and methods (Eze, 1997; Serequeberhan, 2007; Gordon, 2007;
Mills, 1997). Western philosophy in South Africa was also institutionalised through
settler education systems that copied European curricula and norms, often ignoring
the local context and the lived experience of the conquered majority (Phillips, 2003;
Mazrui, 1978).
Failing to distinguish between philosophy and Western philosophy creates serious
problems in study and teaching. First, it produces a false universalism, where
Western ideas are presented as “neutral” or “the human standard”, while African
thought is treated as optional, secondary, or placed in separate spaces such as
African Studies (Mills, 1998). Second, it hides the political role that philosophy can
play in supporting injustice. Study Unit 1 shows philosophy departments and
academics sometimes justified racial separation, apartheid, or censorship, even
when claiming to be “above politics” (More, 2004; Barnes, 2015). Third, the lack of
distinction fuels epistemic injustice: African philosophy is excluded or ignored, and
learners from historically oppressed groups are pushed to see their own knowledge
systems as inferior or irrelevant (Ramose, 2002).
In my view, making the distinction is not about rejecting Western philosophy. It is
about locating it historically, naming its limits, and opening the curriculum to African
