Questions of Method and Substance and the Growth of African Philosophy

Abstract

The affirmation of the existence of African philosophy has seen an upsurge in publications, appearing as anthologies, journal articles, and books on specific philosophical themes with African flavor. Although such publications aim to examine substantive issues, there is surprisingly a lot too that still focus on questions concerning appropriate methods and content. Along the problem of existence, the quest for and subsequent disagreement on appropriate method and content have eventually become dominant features of African philosophy. In this chapter, I argue that although appropriate method and content are basic to any philosophical enterprise, excessive preoccupation with them inhibits the growth of African philosophy as most energy is expended on issues that either have been settled or will better be defined along substantive issues. Thus, unless scholars expend much of their time and efforts on substantive philosophical problems, African philosophy will always appear on the peripheral of the philosophical enterprise.