Analysis of the possibility and the nature of African Philosophy Based on the Heinz Kimmerle’s Intercultural reading of the History of Philosophy

Subject Areas : INTERCULTURAL STUDIES QUARTERLY

Ali Sanaie ¹ , Reza Dehghani ²

1 - Assistant professor of semnan university
2 - PhD.Candidate of philosophy at University of Vienna

Received: 2017-09-22 Accepted : 2017-12-22 Published : 2018-03-11

Keywords: Henz Kimmerle, Intercultural philosophy, African philosophy, history of philosophy, European colonialism,

Abstract :

In this paper, we describe and analyze the view of Heinz Kimmerle about the possibility and the obstacles to the realization of African philosophy. Under the influence of Gadamer's hermeneutics, Kimmerle speaks of mixing horizons of understanding into a dialogue between two cultures. In his view, in order to interact with different cultures, it is necessary to keep away from centralism, while preserving the cultural identity, so that dialogue can be made between them. According to a reading that has spread through the spread of European colonialism and the Enlightenment, and the shadow of the history of philosophy, philosophy is rooted in Western thought, and other nations, especially the African tribes, lack philosophical thinking. According to Kimmerle, this European-Western thinking is a serious obstacle to intercultural dialogue. In light of the analysis that Kimmerle presents of the advent of African philosophy, rewriting the history of a new philosophy is based on the principles of intercultural dialogue, which in turn provides the basis for mutual respect on the international level and the realization of lasting peace in the world.

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