Abstract
In an attempt to answer the question of the proper methodology for African philosophy, I identify “Conversationalism” or “Conversational Thinking” as arguably the most developed and perhaps suitable methodology for African philosophy today. In reaction to the generally descriptive methodologies of African Philosophy, such as ethnophilosophy and sage philosophy, I find expedient the need for a proper rationally consistent and forward-thinking methodological foundation for the development of African philosophy. In acknowledging this deficit, I contest with pre-existing methodologies in African philosophy, deconstructing them in an attempt to lay bare their deficiencies and question their adequacy and suitability for contemporary African philosophy. Finally, I present and critically examine the various tenets and principles of Conversational Philosophy in a bid to make clear and distinct its precepts and method. I also introduce micro-level conversationalism, sub-micro conversationalism and the up-down movement of thought as new principles of conversational philosophy.
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Notes
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Conversational philosophy describes the doctrine or theory of the conversational system. Conversational thinking is the system of thought that grounds conversational philosophy, method and movement. The conversational method describes the processes involved in engaging in conversational thinking. Conversationalism describes the movement or ideology of conversational philosophy even though conversationalists sometimes use it as a synonym for conversational method.
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Attoe, A.D. (2022). Examining the Method and Praxis of Conversationalism. In: Chimakonam, J.O., Etieyibo, E., Odimegwu, I. (eds) Essays on Contemporary Issues in African Philosophy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-70436-0_6
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