Q -1. Discuss the origins of philosophy in general and African philosophy in particular. Compare and contrast European writers such as Hegel, Kant, Hume, and Voltaire and African-centered scholars such as Diop, Asante, and Obenga regarding their views on the origin of philosophy and Africa’s contributions to philosophy. Read Anke Graness article on the history of philosophy in Africa and use ancient Egyptian philosophical thoughts such as the maxims of Ptahhotep (sebayt) and the principles and scales of Maat to illustrate your answer.
Q.2. Discuss the theory of Placid Temple on the ontology of “Being” for European and “Force” for Africans; discuss the rational for Temple’s assumptions and the shortcomings of his theory; Use Diop’s criteria of African philosophical thought and other scholars understanding of African history in antiquity to discuss the inadequacy of Temple’s ethnophilosophy [see pp 8-11]. Write your concluding remarks on the universality of philosophy.
Q-3. What are the two major treatises of Anton-Wilhelm Amo? Discuss Amo’s treatises in detail, how the human mind and body function; compare and contrast his treatise with Cartesian dualism, Rene Descartes and the implications of his work regarding race; [See pp 11-12].
Q-4. Compare and contrast the works of African philosophers like Amo and Zera Yacob with European “Enlightenment” scholars such as Descartes, Locke, Hume, and Kant. What is the significance of Zera Yacob and Amo’s work in terms of rethinking the Age of Enlightenment and Reason in the history of philosophy?
