Answers should show familiarity with the reading. If you
quote the reading, please indicate what chapter you’ve used in brackets. For example
“(Chapter 1)”
How did Cugoano challenge the ideas of the European philosopher David Hume?
** here is the reading and it is chapter 4 ***
Chapter 4:
Quobna Ottobah Cugoano (1757-1803)
Based on Lewis Gordon, Africana Philosophy (Pages 35)
Quobna Ottobah Cugoano -1757-1803
– Born coastal Ghana
– Kidnapped into slavery at 13
– Taken to Grenada
-1772, purchased by Englishmen and taken to England; converted to Christianity, freed. Took name
John Stewart.
– Learned to read and write
-Active in London’s abolitionist community
– Wrote: Thoughts and Sentiments on the Evil and Wicked Traffic of Slavery and Commerce of the
Human Species (1787)
– Unlike Amo, no formal education
Themes in Africana Phil
– Blending of genres; autobiography, exegesis and philosophy
– “subject of bondage and racism demands a variety of techniques by which to get at the human
subject.” (41)
-Rejected the stereotype that blacks were “beasts”; his life was proof against the theory – Slavery is an act of inhumanity
– Takes on David Hume,
o Hume is famous for “empiricism” (using evidence of the senses; seeing is believing; proof
through senses)
o Hume argued that Africa has no art, no science; and also claims that Africans themselves
didn’t object to slavery. (42)
o Cugoano argued against Hume by describing the reality of West African life, such as the
voluntary nature of military service, vs mercenary armies of Europe.
– Analyzes the dominant political theories in 18C England.
o Hobbes (1660), Locke (1690). Contract theory; humans are naturally selfish, and govt
makes them civil.
o Cugoano argues that humans could flourish naturally, and that dehumanization was caused
by government
– Theodicy in Africana thought
o Problem of evil
o Two solutions: (a) limits of human minds (b) freedom
o Debates over slavery often appealed to bible
– Story of Ham
Bondservant argument Exodus 21:2-6
– Hebrews saw their communities as havens for run away slaves
o Cugoano radicalized theodicy: reality itself is God’s language;
o Humanity of black subjects
How did Cugoano challenge the ideas of the European philosopher David Hume?
