A critique of Kwasi Wiredu’s humanism and impartiality
Abstract
This article offers a critical reflection on Kwasi Wiredu’s
moral theory. On the one hand, the article is concerned
with the meta-ethical question regarding the nature of
moral properties, specifically, whether they are physical
(natural) or spiritual (supernatural). On the other, I
reflect on one facet of Wiredu’s normative theory,
namely, whether morality is best captured by partiality
or impartiality in the African tradition. With regards to
meta-ethics, this article reflects that Wiredu’s rejection
of a spiritual (supernaturalist) foundation of African
ethics is unsatisfactory; I also contend that he does not
offer a satisfactory defence of physicalism. I conclude
by observing that a plausible meta-ethical theory,
either physicalist or religious, is yet to be elaborated
within the African tradition. Secondly, I argue that
Wiredu’s normative theory is characterised by a
feature – impartiality – that is at odds with much of
African moral intuitions. Assertions like ‘charity begins
at home’ seem to suggest that African ethics should be
read in terms of partiality rather than impartiality.