An African-Caribbean Dialogue on Philosophy
Hanétha Vété-Congolo-Leibnitz
Edwin Etieyibo
December 5, 2024
Universität Hildesheim, Hörsaal 2 and Live-Stream
Series: What is Philosophy? A Critical Polylogue with Philosophers from Africa
Summary
The “African-Caribbean Dialogue on Philosophy,” led by Professors Hanétha Vété-Congolo-Leibnitz and Edwin Etieyibo, offered an exploration of philosophy through the lenses of African and Caribbean traditions and histories. The discussion centered on how colonization, enslavement, and cultural contexts have shaped philosophical inquiry and expression in these regions. Both speakers critiqued traditional Eurocentric definitions of philosophy, challenging the notion that philosophy is limited to specific geographic and linguistic traditions such as Europe, India, and China. Instead, they emphasized the importance of recognizing philosophical traditions born out of the lived experiences and resistance of marginalized peoples.
Hanétha Vété-Congolo-Leibnitz contextualized philosophy within the Caribbean, describing it as deeply connected to the historical realities of colonization and enslavement. She highlighted how enslaved Africans developed philosophical frameworks to address fundamental questions about humanity, justice, and existence in response to systemic dehumanization. She argued that philosophy in this context often goes beyond defense, instead offering ethical and aesthetic contributions that affirm humanity and envision justice. For her, philosophy should prioritize a “love of justice” over the traditional “love of wisdom,” reflecting its role as a tool for addressing injustice and fostering ethical living.
Edwin Etieyibo expanded on this perspective by situating African philosophical traditions as equally valid and essential to the global philosophical discourse. He argued that philosophy must address concrete questions rooted in lived experience, whether related to justice, ethics, or practical decision-making. Drawing on Marx’s critique that philosophers should not only interpret the world but also seek to change it, Etieyibo emphasized the transformative potential of philosophy when it engages directly with issues of inequality and oppression.
A key part of the dialogue focused on the plurality of philosophical traditions, asserting that philosophical inquiry is inherently shaped by context, culture, and material conditions. The speakers agreed that philosophy must balance the universal—such as the pursuit of justice—with the particularities of individual and collective experiences. Through examples, such as a moral dilemma about stealing food to survive, they illustrated how philosophy emerges from everyday critical thinking and decision-making.
The discussion also addressed the practical application of philosophy. Vété-Congolo-Leibnitz described philosophy as an instrument for creating ethical and just societies, particularly in contexts marked by systemic injustice. She emphasized that philosophy’s ultimate goal should be to improve human existence and ensure freedom and dignity for all.
In conclusion, the dialogue highlighted the expansive and transformative nature of philosophy, emphasizing its relevance to questions of justice, ethics, and humanity. Both speakers underscored the importance of grounding philosophical inquiry in lived experience, rejecting narrow definitions, and embracing a more inclusive and pluralistic understanding of philosophy. By centering justice as a core element of philosophical practice, the discussion offered a compelling vision of philosophy as a means of both understanding and reshaping the world.
Gallery
Short Bios
Hanétha Vété-Congolo-Leibnitz is “Henry Wadsworth Longfellow” Professor of Romance Languages and Literatures at the Bowdoin College. She holds a doctorate in general and comparative literature from the Université des Antilles et de la Guyane, and teaches French cultures, oralities and literatures from sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean. Hanétha’s research and teaching interests include Black Studies, Caribbean and African Ideas, Caribbean and African Orature, Caribbean and African Philosophy, Caribbean and West and Central African Literature, Cross-Cultural Theories, Cross-Cultural Feminist and Africana Womanist Theories, Francophone Women’s Literature from West Africa, Central Africa and the Caribbean, French colonization and imperialism, French and Francophone Comparative Literature, Literature and philosophy, Literary Theory, Postcolonial Theory, Psychoanalytic approach to literature.
Edwin Etieyibo is Professor of Philosophy and Head of the Department of Philosophy at the University of the Witwatersrand. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Alberta. He has previously taught at Athabasca University. He specializes in several areas in philosophy including African philosophy, critical thinking, decolonization, ethics, history of philosophy, philosophy for (and with) children, philosophies of disability and law, social and political philosophy, and social contract theories. He was previously the Secretary/Treasurer of the International Society for African Philosophy and Studies (2014–2023), past Editor-in-Chief of the South African Journal of Philosophy (2018–2022), and is currently the Secretary of the African Philosophy Society, a pan-African organisation which he co-founded and that organises research clusters among African philosophers as well as mentors younger scholars in African philosophy.