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.