PLS1502
INTRODUCTION TO AFRICAN PHILOSOPHY
PAST EXAM PACK QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
(2020 – 2014)
2020 MAY/JUNE EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
2020 SUMMARISED NOTES
DISCLAIMER: Extreme care has been used to create this document, however the contents are provided “as is” without any
representations or warranties, express or implied. This document is to be used for comparison, research and reference
purposes ONLY. Directly submitting and/or reselling/ distribution / reproduction any part of this document is not permitted.
,AFRICAN PHILOSOPHY TO BE DEFINED
, AFRICAN PHILOSOPHY TO BE DEFINED
October November 2019
Question
1 .1 1
1.2 3
1.34
1.43
1.5 3
1.6.2
1.73
1.8 3
1.9 2
1.10 1
1.11 2
1.12 2
1.13 3
1.143
1.15 4
1.161
1.171
1.182
1.19 3
1.20 1
, AFRICAN PHILOSOPHY TO BE DEFINED
Question 2.1
SECTION B
African philosophy can be formally defined as a
critical thinking by Africans on their experiences of reality. African
philosophy is "that which concerns itself with the way in which
African people of the past and present make sense of their
destiny and of the world in which they live." In this regard, African
philosophy is a critical reflection on African leaderships in the
administration of their duties towards their citizens, the morally
blameworthiness or praiseworthiness of it. It will also provide
possible solutions to the problems experienced in African
governance.
Much of the modern African philosophy has been concerned with
defining the ethnophilosophical parameters of African philosophy
and identifying what differentiates it from other philosophical
traditions. One of the implicit assumptions of ethnophilosophy is
that a specific culture can have a philosophy that is not
applicable and accessible to all peoples and cultures in the world,
however this concept is disputed by traditional philosophers.
Furthermore, ethnophilosophical approach to African philosophy
is a static group property which is is highly problematic. Research
on Ubuntu presents an alternative collective discourse on African
philosophy ("collective" in the sense that it does not focus on any
individual in particular) that takes differences, historical
developments, and social contexts seriously.
2.2 Philosophic sagacity is an individualist version of
ethnophilosophy, this trend characterises the beliefs of
individuals as opposed to those of a community. The premise
here is that, The sage goes beyond mere knowledge and
understanding to reflection and questioning the truth against all
odds. Sage philosophy is still known as the widely unwritten
aspect of African philosophy. It lives in the minds of individuals
and not in text.
Ethnophilosophy deals much with the beliefs found in African
cultures. These beliefs include the activities of the kind. Such an
approach treats African philosophy as a set of similar beliefs
which are not based on human reason or scientific knowledge.
Ethonophilosophy is a communal thing and not an individualised
INTRODUCTION TO AFRICAN PHILOSOPHY
PAST EXAM PACK QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
(2020 – 2014)
2020 MAY/JUNE EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
2020 SUMMARISED NOTES
DISCLAIMER: Extreme care has been used to create this document, however the contents are provided “as is” without any
representations or warranties, express or implied. This document is to be used for comparison, research and reference
purposes ONLY. Directly submitting and/or reselling/ distribution / reproduction any part of this document is not permitted.
,AFRICAN PHILOSOPHY TO BE DEFINED
, AFRICAN PHILOSOPHY TO BE DEFINED
October November 2019
Question
1 .1 1
1.2 3
1.34
1.43
1.5 3
1.6.2
1.73
1.8 3
1.9 2
1.10 1
1.11 2
1.12 2
1.13 3
1.143
1.15 4
1.161
1.171
1.182
1.19 3
1.20 1
, AFRICAN PHILOSOPHY TO BE DEFINED
Question 2.1
SECTION B
African philosophy can be formally defined as a
critical thinking by Africans on their experiences of reality. African
philosophy is "that which concerns itself with the way in which
African people of the past and present make sense of their
destiny and of the world in which they live." In this regard, African
philosophy is a critical reflection on African leaderships in the
administration of their duties towards their citizens, the morally
blameworthiness or praiseworthiness of it. It will also provide
possible solutions to the problems experienced in African
governance.
Much of the modern African philosophy has been concerned with
defining the ethnophilosophical parameters of African philosophy
and identifying what differentiates it from other philosophical
traditions. One of the implicit assumptions of ethnophilosophy is
that a specific culture can have a philosophy that is not
applicable and accessible to all peoples and cultures in the world,
however this concept is disputed by traditional philosophers.
Furthermore, ethnophilosophical approach to African philosophy
is a static group property which is is highly problematic. Research
on Ubuntu presents an alternative collective discourse on African
philosophy ("collective" in the sense that it does not focus on any
individual in particular) that takes differences, historical
developments, and social contexts seriously.
2.2 Philosophic sagacity is an individualist version of
ethnophilosophy, this trend characterises the beliefs of
individuals as opposed to those of a community. The premise
here is that, The sage goes beyond mere knowledge and
understanding to reflection and questioning the truth against all
odds. Sage philosophy is still known as the widely unwritten
aspect of African philosophy. It lives in the minds of individuals
and not in text.
Ethnophilosophy deals much with the beliefs found in African
cultures. These beliefs include the activities of the kind. Such an
approach treats African philosophy as a set of similar beliefs
which are not based on human reason or scientific knowledge.
Ethonophilosophy is a communal thing and not an individualised
