Cultural universals are those guiding principles of human civilization that are so central to human identity that we can find them, in some form, in all societies past and present around the. To these scholars, all philosophies are cultural philosophies and. However, it is generally the case that scientific colonialism. Motsamai molefe 2017 south african journal of philosophy 36 4. African scholars have demonstrated that precolonial african cultures generated ideas a. Based on fieldwork conducted in ghana, abamfo ofori atiemo here establishes a convergence between human rights and local religious and cultural values in african societies.
The journal of modern african studies offers a quarterly survey of developments in modern african politics and society. An african perspective by kwasi wiredu cultural universals and particulars. The eminent ghanaian philosopher kwasi wiredu confronts the paradox that while western cultures recoil from claims of universality, previously colonized peoples, seeking to redefine their identities, insist on cultural particularities. Council for research in values and philosophy, 1992. The word akan covers a large number of similar cultural. A philosophical perspective on the concept of human communication.
The african indigenous knowledge system, like any academic discipline, has its own specific language and jargon as a created symbolic system, which it uses both to see and understand the reality that is the focus of its study and subsequently to document, communicate, and further increase its knowledge content. It is intended not only for students and academic specialists, but also for general readers and practitioners with a concern for modern africa. The akan conception of a person has two prominent interpretations, represented by kwasi wiredus and kwame gyekyes conflicting views. Cultural universals and particulars indiana university press. Its main emphasis is on current issues in african politics, economies, societies and international relations. Wiredus discussion of culturally defined values and.
Pdf cultural universals and particulars in the philosophy of kwasi. In pursuing further wiredus thesis on cultural universals, the present paper. In cultural universals and particulars 1996, wiredu wrote that orukas sage philosophy book was the first. Wiredus exposition of the principles of african traditional philosophy is not purely theoretical. Cultural impact of media on women background media have always produced significant effects upon the behavior and lives of people. Like other longestablished cultures the world over, the akan have developed a rich conceptual system complete with metaphysical, moral, and epistemological aspects. Wiredu on cultural universals and particulars wiredu is one of the foremost african philosophers.
Cultural universals and particulars book pdf download. Various media have been used to express what people think and feel as those serve as lines for communication. African ontological account of reality is generally known to be a holistic one because of. The meaning of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment. An african perspective african systems of thought at.
Jan 01, 1996 cultural universals and particulars book. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Cultural universals and particulars by kwasi wiredu. Cultural universals and particulars in kwasi wiredus philosophy 273 on the basis of this, we seek to ma ke a case for causality as another possible cultural universal that defies any cultural. A comparative analysis of 61 some african and western conceptions of morals part iii. Kwasi wiredu was a member of the committee of directors of the international federation of philosophical societies from 19831998.
Wiredu asserts that universals, rightly conceived on the basis of our. A dialectical interaction exists between cultural unity and diversity. He also edited a companion to african philosophy, published by blackwell in 2004. The biological foundation of universal norms 34 part ii. A cultural universal also called an anthropological universal or human universal, as discussed by emile durkheim, george murdock, claude levistrauss, donald brown and others, is an element, pattern, trait, or institution that is common to all human cultures worldwide. A philosophical perspective on the concept of human communication 3. In pursuing further wiredus thesis on cultural universals, the present paper critically examines. In his own view, these works represent african philosophy only in the sense that he is an african involved in philosophy. Cultural universals and particulars in kwasi wiredus philosophy 263.
African sage philosophy stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. Akan philosophy of the person stanford encyclopedia of. The culture of the akan people of west africa dates from before the th century. Taken together, the whole body of cultural universals is known as the. African sage philosophy internet encyclopedia of philosophy. Cultural universals which has been mentioned by anthropologists like george murdock, claude levistrauss, donald brown and others can be defined as being anything common that exists in every human culture on the planet yet varies from different culture to culture, such as values and modes of behavior. The question of appropriate models of cultural exchange between africa and her former colonisers has often dominated the recent practice of african. Of particular interest is the akan conception of persons, a conception that informs a variety of. Wiredus discussion of culturally defined values and concepts, as well as his attention to such timely issues as human rights, makes this book invaluable interdisciplinary reading. This allows for a cultural embedding of human rights in ghana and other nonwestern societies.
The biological foundation of universal norms part ii. A comparative analysis of some african and western conceptions of. Wirth and others published cultural universals and particulars. Kwasi wiredu the eminent ghanaian philosopher kwasi wiredu confronts the paradox that while western cultures recoil from claims of universality, previously colonized peoples, seeking to redefine their identities. Toward a crosscultural approach to defining international standards of human rights. This pillar box is a particular and so is that scarf, and they both possess the universal redness. Thus, there arises a great need for indigenizing and integrating the curriculum. This book examines the idea of communalism in african cultures as a dominant philosophical theme that provides the conceptual foundation for african traditional moral thoughts, moral education, values, beliefs, conceptions of reality, practices, ways of life, and the now popular african saying, it takes a village to raise a child. An african perspective, bloomington and indianapolis. Universalism and particularism in religion from an african perspective. Examples of elements that may be considered cultural universals are. They fail to hold in all circumstances and for everyone wiredu 2005.
For an even more sustained account of this discursive history see also his cultural universals and particulars. Taken together, the whole body of cultural universals is known as the human condition. An african perspective african systems of thought 9780253210807. He argues that human rights represent universal dream values. Why it is justified by an african ethic 9 african philosophy and nonhuman nature 10 on cultural universals and. Wiredu reflects on language, biological identity, interintra cultural communication, as well as epistemic and moral fundamentals as cultural universals. The eminent ghanaian philosopher kwasi wiredu confronts the paradox that while western cultures recoil from claims of universality. Kwasi wiredu the eminent ghanaian philosopher kwasi wiredu confronts the paradox that while western cultures recoil from claims of universality, previously. An african perspective on the partiality and impartiality debate. Hope fo r education in africa depends on resounding visions of africas history and.
Cultural diversity and moral relativism in communication. Feminism and human rights at a crossroads in africa. I start with the premiss that there is intercultural communication. In philosophy and an african culture 1980 wiredu affirmed that the recording and critical study of the thought of individual indigenous thinkers is worthy of the most serious attention of contemporary african philosophers 37. Pdf cultural universals and particulars in the philosophy. This paper seeks to advance the horizon of kwasi wiredus philosophical defense of the compatibility of cultural universals and particulars. A comparative analysis of some african and western conceptions of morals part iii. Wiredu asserts that universals, rightly conceived on the basis of our common biological identity, are not incompatible with cultural particularities and, in fact, are what make intercultural communication possible. Whether the media are already old or still emerging as ways. In order to strengthen the positive factor and limit the negative, it is important to have a good conceptual grasp of the basis of the unity, as well as of the diversity of cultures. Masologhanaian philosopher kwasi wiredu confronts the paradox that while western cultures recoil from claims of universality, previously colonized peoples, seeking to redefine their.
Recent attempts at revising and updating some international medical ethical guidelines have been bedevilled by intractable controversies and wrangling regarding both the content and formulation. In african countries there has been a surge of intellectual interest in foregrounding ideas and thinkers of african originin philosophy as in other disciplinesthat have been unjustly ignored or marginalized. Then intercultural communication would be impossible. Realists about universals hold that universals have a reality distinct from their instances that universals exist distinct from the. I propose a reductio ad absurdum proof for an affirmative answer as follows. Through initiation rites, african dialectic games, stories, proverbs, etc. In this paper, the author attempts to explore some of the problems connected with the formulation and application of international biomedical ethical guidelines, with particular reference to africa. Particulars are the things or objects which possess universals. Another aspect of wiredus writings more directly addresses the issue of identifying african philosophy as either a tradition or a tradition in the making. Cultural empowerment among african american women there is a health crisis among african american women owing to their high rates of obesity, diabetes and hypertension in comparison to women of other ethnicities in us. Cultural empowerment among african american women overview of issue.