This is the first comprehensive exploration of African ethics covering everything from normative ethics and applied ethics, to meta-ethics and methodology, as well as the history of its evolution.
African Ethics provides an in-depth exploration of Ubuntu ethics which is defined as a set of values based on concepts such as reciprocity, mutual respect, and working towards the common good. Ubuntu ethics also strongly emphasize the place of human dignity. The book engages with both theory and practice and how these ethical ideas impact upon the actual lived experience of Africans.
It also includes important political considerations such as the impact of imperialism, colonialism, and capitalism on African ethics as well as the negative impact of apartheid and the renaissance made possible by the ‘The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’ whose work was premised heavily on African ethical ideas.
This book is not just a wide-ranging and incisive introduction but also a reformulation of key concepts and current debates in African ethics. Crucially, African Ethics is an inclusive text, one that speaks from an African perspective and contributes to the decolonizing of contemporary ethics.
Dedication Acknowledgements Preface Introduction: African Ethics, what it is and its Importance, Jonathan O Chimakonam (University of Pretoria, South Africa) and Luis Cordeiro-Rodrigues (Hunan University, China) 1. Sources of Moral Justification in African Ethics, Jonathan O Chimakonam (University of Pretoria, South Africa) 2. African Proverbs, Edwin Etieyibo (University of the Witswatersrand, South Africa) 3. Innocent Asouzu’s Complementary Ethics, Jonathan O Chimakonam (University of Pretoria, South Africa) and L. Uchenna Ogbonnaya (University of Calabar, Nigeria) 4. Basic Intuitions in African Ethics, John Patrick Giddy (University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa) 5. African Views on Moral Status, Cornelius Ewuoso (University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa) 6. Influences of Religions on African Ethics: Insights from African Indigenous Religions, Christianity, and Islam, SimonMary Asese Aihiokhai, (University of Portland, USA) 7. A Personhood-Based Theory of Right Action, Amara Esther Chimakonam, (University of Johannesburg, South Africa) 8. Complementary Ethical Reflection in Ibuanyidanda Philosophy, Innocent I Asouzu (University of Calabar, Nigeria) 9. The Common Good in Complementary Ethical Reflection, Innocent I Asouzu (University of Calabar, Nigeria) 10.Underlying moral justification of Baraza and Indaba Dialogic Institutions in African Social Ethics and Philosophy: A Literary Research, Jean Chrysostome K. Kiyala (Durban University of Technology, South Africa) 11.The Virtues of African Ethics, Thaddeus Metz (University of Pretoria, South Africa) Chapter 12.Ujamaa and African Ethics, Isaiah Negedu(University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa) 13. Ancient Egyptian Ethics’ Origin of the African Renaissance Concept, Sesanti, Simphiwe (University of the Western Cape, South Africa) 14.The Partialist Leaning and Impartialist Aspiration of Traditional African Ethics, Ada Agada (The Conversational School of Philosophy) 15. Yoruba Ethics, Babalola Joseph Balogun (Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria) 16. The African Ethics of Ukama, Munamato Chemhuru (Great Zimbabwe University, Zimbabwe) 17. African Feminism and Africana Womanism, Joyline Gwara (University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe) 18. African Business Ethics: Past contributions and Future Challenges and Possibilities, Minka Woermann (Stellenbosch University, South Africa) 19. Key Perspectives on Medical Ethics in Africa, Gerald M. Ssebunnya (Padre Pio Medical Centre, Botswana) 20.African Just War Theory: Theoretical Impetus and Contemporary Trajectory, Badru Olufemi (Lead City University, Nigeria) 21. Animals and the Environment, Kai Horthemke (KU Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, Germany) 22. African Distributive justice, Christopher Wareham (University of the Witswatersrand, South Africa) 23. Reconciliation and Retribution in the Context of Africa, Cyril-Mary P. Olatunji (Adekunle Ajasin University, Nigeria) and Mojalefa Koenane (University of South Africa, South Africa) 24. Human Rights in Modern African Philosophy, Katrin Flikcshuh (London School of Economics, UK) 25. Euthanasia in African Ethics, Simon Makwinja (University of Malawi, Malawi) 26.Assessing same-sex relations from an African Communitarian perspective, Dennis Masaka (Great Zimbabwe University, Zimbabwe) 27.African Ethics for Psychotherapy: A contemporary Discussion, Van Dyk (Stellenbosch University, South Africa) 28.Ethics and African Philosophy of Education, Moetketsi Letseka (University of South Africa, South Africa) 29. Digital Communalism: Towards a Social Media Ethics from an African Perspective, Maduka Enyimba (University of Calabar, Nigeria) and Aribiah Attoe (University of the Witswatersrand, South Africa) Index
Jonathan O. Chimakonam is Senior Lecturer in the Department of Philosophy, University of Pretoria, South Africa. He is the editor of Atuolu Omalu: Some Unanswered Questions in Contemporary African Philosophy (2015); African Philosophy and Environmental Conservation (2018) and African Philosophy and the Epistemic Marginalization of Women (2018). Luis Cordeiro-Rodrigues is Associate Professor of philosophy at the Department of Philosophy, Hunan University, China. He is the editor of Animals, Race and Multiculturalism (2017), Philosophies of Multiculturalism (2019) and Comparative Just War Theory (2019).
Reviews for African Ethics: A Guide to Key Ideas
In this fascinating and compendious collection of writings from different African ethical traditions the newcomer teacher, the student, and the seasoned researcher in African philosophy alike can look forward to an enriching read, exploring concepts and framework ideas, such as ubuntu, ukama, complementarity reflection, egbe bere ugo bere, and Afro-communitarianism. * Miranda Fricker, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, The Graduate Center CUNY, USA * African Ethics is a thrilling contribution to Africana philosophy and contemporary ethics. This is a powerful scholarly collection that introduces systematic formulations of Africa’s ethical norms dictating individual acts and communal practices. For decades African peoples, and their beliefs, have been the object of colonial postulations doubting the existence of ethical systems among African peoples. This book not only shows that Africans have developed ethical systems, but convincingly demonstrates the incompleteness of contemporary ethical thought. This text is a fantastic addition to Black philosophy, Africana Studies, and decolonial theory. * Tommy J. Curry, Professor of Philosophy and Chair of Africana Philosophy and Black Male Studies, University of Edinburgh, UK *
