Research Catalog

Title

Harmonious monism : a philosophical logic of explanation for ontological issues in supernaturalism in Africa thought / edited [authored], Chris O. Ijiomah.

Author

Ijiomah, Chris O.

Publication

• [Nigeria] : [Joschrisam Publishers], [2021]
• Nigeria : Joschrisam Publishers
• ©2021

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Description

xiv, 176 pages; 22 cm

Summary

"This book is a reaction to the dehumanizing position of Lucian Levy-Bruhl. This position maintains that there is no Logic in the third world (including African) thoughts. Barnes H.E, however objects to that position in a skirmish manner by merely quoting Goldenweiser who says that if an African (a third world man) is given his premises, he can draw his logical conclusions. Therefore he is by no means so absolutely devoid of logic as Lucian Levy-Bruhl imagines. In addition, he says that African thought (supernaturalism) as a system is in itself perfectly reasonable and logical. This book position is that Bruhl's calumniating onslaught on Africa needs a systematic rebuttal rather than a mere skirmishing. This is because the position of Bruhl is a clear reproach to Africans. To do that, this work starts first by exposing the facts that: 1.Bruhl knows no other logictan a two-valued type 2.Bruhl does not know that African thoughts contain supernaturalistic and physicalist's ideas. On the ignorance of the second fact, he erroneously falls into the generalisation that African thought is supernaturalistic. Because he does not know any other logic, he uses two-valued logic(which is alien to our culture) to evaluate our supernaturalistic thoughts. This results to his mistaken position. This work, in main, rigorously constructs a logic from an African world-view. This logic (harmonious monism) shows its appropriateness in its interpretations or explanations of supernaturalistic experiences in Africa without a contradiction. On the basis of the work's findings, a thesis is reached: It is that African thinkers should not be voracious about the philosophical achievements of the west. Indeed African philosophers need a particular level of skepticism to deal with some of the thoughts of the western thinkers. Many of them do not display much respect for the thoughts of the third world countries. Therefore, whatever partiality an African thinker may develop for the western ideas, must not only rest on the considerations of synthetic truth of the ideas. It should particularly rest on the implications and relevance of the ideas for our environmental needs."--Page 4 of cover.

Subject

• Lévy-Bruhl, Lucien, 1857-1939
• Philosophy, African
• Logic > Africa
• Monism
• Philosophie africaine
• Monisme

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (pages 166-176).

ISBN

• 9780071210
• 9789780071219

OCLC

• on1330250736
• SCSB-14652229

Owning Institutions

Princeton University Library