African Philosophy and the Lingering Question of Methodology

Abstract

Since the post-World War II era there has been a lingering controversy about
what we should be doing in the name of African philosophy. Whilst some argue that
it is the espousing of collective traditional practices, norms and values, others argue that it is the critical argumentation done by individual philosophers on any topic worth philosophical attention. There has been an attempt to forge a compromise in what is
called sage philosophy, but there is no guaranteed accuracy in this attempt. My argument is that the debate persists because of a hasty expectation of African philosophy. Secondly, it appears that we cannot avoid argumentation as a methodology in African philosophy, contrary to the position of some supporters of the “ethno” philosophy school.