Making room for more games: metaphilosophical typology and the problem of African philosophy
Abstract
English: The question concerning the philosophy of philosophy (metaphilosophy) has received
little attention in philosophical discourses in the last few decades, a case in point
being the debate on African philosophy. People often argue the existence or nonexistence
of African philosophy without explaining their own understanding of the
nature of philosophy. This article introduces a metaphilosophical conceptual grid
as a means to address this issue. A distinction is made between different kinds of
philosophy, as well as different types of philosophers. The grid is then applied to the
debate on African philosophy. One of the main functions of the proposed grid is to
ensure that different discourses are not confused with one another. Afrikaans: Die vraag rakende die filosofie van filosofie (metafilosofie) het min aandag geniet in
filosofiese diskoerse die laaste paar dekades, ’n bewys hiervan is die debat rondom
Afrika-filosofie. Mense beredeneer dikwels die bestaan al dan nie van Afrika-filosofie
sonder om hul eie verstaan van die aard van filosofie te verduidelik. In hierdie artikel
word ’n metafilosofiese konseptuele rooster voorgestel as een moontlike benadering
tot hierdie probleem. ’n Onderskeid word gemaak tussen verskillende soorte filosofie
asook verskillende tipes filosowe. Die rooster word dan toegepas op die debat rakende
Afrika-filosofie. Een van die funksies van die rooster is om te verseker dat verskillende
diskoerse nie met mekaar verwar word nie.