Philosophy 223
African Philosophy
Fall Semester 1998
Instructor: Maurice L. Wade
Office: McCook 318
Office Hours: Mondays 2:00-3:00 and Wednesdays 2:00-4:00, and by
appointment
Campus Phone Number: 2417
Course Description
This course is an wide ranging, introductory survey of some of
the main issues and topics currently getting attention in African
philosophy. The course is introductory in the sense that it does
not presuppose prior work in philosophy or prior acquaintance
with African philosophy. Nonetheless, we will be reading,
discussing, and writing about sophisticated philosophical essays
and books written by contemporary African and African-descended
thinkers. The main prerequisite for this course is the ability
and willingness to do the hard work necessary to understand
original scholarly writing.
Required Texts
Three texts are available for purchase for this course at the
campus bookstore in the basement of the Mather Campus Center.
African Philosophy: An Anthology edited by Emmanuel Chukwudi Eze.
Tradition and Modernity: Philosophical Reflections on the African
Experience by Kwame Gyekye.
Cultural Universals and Particulars: An African Perspective by
Kwasi Wiredu.
Course Requirements
As the assignment schedule below shows, you will be required to
take 3 in-class quizzes. Each quiz will draw upon a portion of
the material covered in African Philosophy: An Anthology. You
will also be required to complete 2 take-home exams, one covering
Tradition and Modernity: Philosophical Reflections on the African
Experience and one covering Cultural Universals and Particulars:
An African Perspective.
Although the material for this course will be covered primarily
by lectures, you are encouraged to ask questions, to make
comments, and otherwise to generate discussion.
While some instructors at Trinity may regard what happens in
class as an optional feature of their courses and so do not
require attendance, I am not that sort of instructor. I require
your attendance at each and every class session. For every
session that you miss, you must turn in a 5 page typed essay with
standard margins on the material covered for that session. That
will essay be due at the very next class. No exceptions will be
made!
Experience of recent years has forced me to make the following
remarks about decorum. Lateness is rude. Be on time. I will
reduce your course grade if you engage in this kind of rudeness.
Please take care of your thirst, hunger, and bathroom needs prior
to class. You should not have to leave class to attend to any of
these matters. Of course, if you have a medical condition which
makes sitting through a 75 minute class especially difficult, let
me know this as soon as you know it.
All of the regulations and standards in the section of the
Trinity College Handbook entitled, “Intellectual
Honesty,” apply to this course. Be sure that you are
acquainted with and understand them.
Assignment Schedule
For 9/8 and 9/10, read Part I of African Philosophy: An Anthology
(APAA).
For 9/15, read Part II of APAA.
For 9/17, read Part III of APAA.
9/22--Quiz
For 9/24, read Part IV of APAA.
For 9/29, read Part V of APAA.
For 10/1, read Part VI of APAA.
For 10/6, read Part VII of APAA.
10/8--Quiz
For 10/20, read Part VIII of APAA.
For 10/22, read Part IX of APAA.
For 10/27, read Part X of APAA.
For 10/29, read Part XI of APAA.
11/3--Quiz
For 11/ 5 through 11/19 read Tradition and Modernity:
Philosophical Reflections on the African Experience.
11/17--Take-home exam distributed in class.
12/4--Take-home exam due at McCook 318 no later than 3:00 p.m.
For 12/1 through 12/10, read Cultural Universals and Particulars:
An African Perspective.
12/10--Take-home exam distributed in class.
12/18--Take-home exam due at McCook 318 no later than 3:00 p.m.
Unforeseeable circumstances may necessitate changes in this
assignment schedule. You are responsible for being aware of such
changes if they are made.