, PLS1502 Assignment 2
Semester 2 2025
DUE 12 September 2025
Use this document as a guide and for references to answer your assignment
OPTION A
WHY IMBO BELIEVES THE DEFINITION OF AFRICAN PHILOSOPHY IS
HIGHLY CODED
Introduction
Begin by framing the issue: many scholars debate not only what African
Philosophy is, but whether there is such a thing, how one defines ―philosophy,‖
what counts as ―African,‖ etc. Samuel E. Imbo in An Introduction to African
Philosophy argues that the question “Does African philosophy exist?” and the
definition of African Philosophy are highly coded. By ―coded,‖ he means laden
with implicit assumptions, political, ideological, historical meanings—not neutral
or purely empirical.
Thesis you might use: Imbo believes the definition is highly coded because
defining African Philosophy involves assumptions about culture, power, identity,
rationality, and history; these shape what gets included or excluded. These
assumptions are rooted in colonial history, the universalizing claims of European
rationality, and contestations internal to African thought. Moreover, Imbo suggests
that one cannot properly answer definitional issues without recognizing these
politics. Finally, even now, African Philosophy should continue to concern itself
with these politics and assumptions, because they impact both its identity and its
practical role in society.
How Imbo Defines African Philosophy (and What the Definitional Debate
Involves)
To understand why the definition is coded, you need to look at how Imbo
approaches what African Philosophy is (or could be). Some key points:
Semester 2 2025
DUE 12 September 2025
Use this document as a guide and for references to answer your assignment
OPTION A
WHY IMBO BELIEVES THE DEFINITION OF AFRICAN PHILOSOPHY IS
HIGHLY CODED
Introduction
Begin by framing the issue: many scholars debate not only what African
Philosophy is, but whether there is such a thing, how one defines ―philosophy,‖
what counts as ―African,‖ etc. Samuel E. Imbo in An Introduction to African
Philosophy argues that the question “Does African philosophy exist?” and the
definition of African Philosophy are highly coded. By ―coded,‖ he means laden
with implicit assumptions, political, ideological, historical meanings—not neutral
or purely empirical.
Thesis you might use: Imbo believes the definition is highly coded because
defining African Philosophy involves assumptions about culture, power, identity,
rationality, and history; these shape what gets included or excluded. These
assumptions are rooted in colonial history, the universalizing claims of European
rationality, and contestations internal to African thought. Moreover, Imbo suggests
that one cannot properly answer definitional issues without recognizing these
politics. Finally, even now, African Philosophy should continue to concern itself
with these politics and assumptions, because they impact both its identity and its
practical role in society.
How Imbo Defines African Philosophy (and What the Definitional Debate
Involves)
To understand why the definition is coded, you need to look at how Imbo
approaches what African Philosophy is (or could be). Some key points:
