The Need To Question An Introduction To Philosophy

The Need to Question

A Brief Presentation of Philosophy and Its History

This book presents philosophy as a historical series of answers to two questions: the meaning question (what does it all mean?) and the reality question (what is real rather than illusory?). Presenting philosophy as a historical series of answers to these two questions gives a new view of philosophy. It reveals a coherence between the disparate problems of philosophy which is not apparent when philosophy is approached in a systematic and timeless manner. On the basis of this historical approach, the book argues that philosophy was initially concerned primarily with the nature of reality but changed its focus when science was established as a separate discipline in the 17th century. Philosophy’s main concern is now the meaning question with a focus on questions of value as discussed in moral and political philosophy and in aesthetics. This book is essential reading for all scholars and researchers in philosophy and especially those interested in the history of philosophy.

Handbook of African Philosophy

This Handbook provides in one volume rich, comprehensive and rigorous coverage of specific subject areas and thematic concerns in the ever-evolving academic discipline of African philosophy. This Handbook is unique in its focus on central and emerging areas within African philosophy such as Afro-communitarian philosophy, ethics, epistemology, social and political philosophy, existentialism, philosophy of religion, gender philosophy, philosophy of education, phenomenology, transhumanism, African philosophy futures, and philosophy of the non-human. The thirty-two chapters in this Handbook explore the rich textual and non-textual forms of philosophical knowledge in Africa and adequately represent the broad and diverse scope of African philosophy, showing the richness and depth of the philosophical tradition. This reference work is indispensable to students and researchers in African philosophy, comparative philosophy and world philosophies.