Tradition and Modernity: Philosophical Reflections on the African ExperienceThis book offers a philosophical interpretation and critical analysis of the African cultural experience in modern times. In their attempt to evolve ways of life appropriate to our modern world culture, says Kwame Gyekye, African people face a number of unique societal challenges, some stemming from the values and practices of their traditional cultures, others representing the legacy of European colonialism. Defending the cross-cultural applicability of philosophical concepts developed in Western culture, Gyekye attempts to show the usefulness of such concepts in addressing a wide range of concrete and specifically African problems. Among the issues he considers are: economic development, nation-building, the evolution of viable and appropriate democratic political institutions, the development of appropriate and credible ideologies, political corruption, and the crumbling of traditional moral standards in the wake of rapid social change. Throughout, Gyekye challenges the notion that modernity for Africa must be equated with Western values and institutions, arguing instead that African modernity must be forged creatively within the furnace of Africa's many-sided cultural experience. A timely and powerful addition to postcolonial theory, Tradition and Modernity will interest scholars and students working in philosophy, political science, sociology, and African studies. |
Contents
CHAPTER 1 Philosophy and Human Affairs | 3 |
In Defense of Moderate Communitarianism | 35 |
CHAPTER 3 Ethnicity Identity and Nationhood | 77 |
Their Status in the Modern Setting | 115 |
CHAPTER 5 The Socialist Interlude | 144 |
CHAPTER 6 Quandaries in the Legitimation of Political Power | 171 |
A Moral Pollution | 192 |
CHAPTER 8 Tradition and Modernity | 217 |
Which Modernity? Whose Tradition? | 273 |
Notes | 299 |
Bibliography | 317 |
Index of Names | 327 |
330 | |
Other editions - View all
Tradition and Modernity: Philosophical Reflections on the African Experience Kwame Gyekye Limited preview - 1997 |
Tradition and Modernity: Philosophical Reflections on the African Experience Kwame Gyekye No preview available - 1997 |
Common terms and phrases
Accra African cultures African Philosophy African political African socialism African society Akan Akan language appropriate Ashanti attitudes basic basis century chapter chief citizens colonial communitarian communocultural concept considered constitute context critical cultural past cultural tradition cultural values democracy democratic economic elements enterprise essentially ethnic group ethnocultural ethos existence experience expression fact fundamental G. E. M. Anscombe Ghana goals historical Hountondji human society Ibid ideas identity ideology imply individual individualist inherited institutions intellectual J. B. Danquah Kenneth Kaunda Kwame Gyekye Kwasi Wiredu language legitimacy legitimate means ment metanational military modern moral responsibility moral revolution multinational N₁ N₂ nation-building nation-state national culture nature normative Oxford person personhood philosophical Plato political corruption political power position postcolonial practice principles problems proverb public officials pursuit reason relevance responsibility rule ruler sense theory thought tion traditional African University Press Western