Dialogics:
An African Method for Philosophizing in a Globalized World
Interview with Ike Odimegwu
Language of the Interview: English
Conducted by Monika Rohmer
Posted on
In this interview conducted during the Places of African Philosophies workshop, Prof. Ike Odimegwu, President of the African Philosophy Society, reflects on the significance of philosophical societies, the relation between philosophy and politics, and his development of the dialogic method. He describes contemporary African philosophy as a movement born from the struggle against colonial denigration—an affirmation of the African capacity to think and philosophize. While such movements generate vital momentum, their achievements risk being lost without institutional continuity. Philosophical societies, he argues, preserve these gains by creating spaces for dialogue, mentorship, and community among thinkers across generations.
Discussing the nexus of philosophy and politics, Odimegwu emphasizes that sound political practice must rest on coherent philosophical foundations. Many political crises, he suggests, stem from a lack of philosophical awareness or consistency. To heal political dysfunctions at their root requires returning to the underlying philosophical assumptions that guide action.
Central to his thought is “Dialogics,” a method he developed to replace the conflict-based logic of Hegelian dialectics with a relational, non-confrontational form of reasoning grounded in mutual recognition. Through the stages of thesis, enthesis, prothesis, and synthesis, dialogics seeks to reduce differences, deepen commonalities, and integrate opposing positions. Odimegwu has applied this approach to themes such as personhood, justice, and gender relations within African worldviews.
Reflecting on inequalities within global philosophy, he calls for mutual recognition among traditions, regions, and genders: each must articulate and develop its own position rather than await representation by others. Equality, for him, arises from openness and dialogue rather than confrontation. His vision of philosophy is thus both integrative and transformative—seeking synthesis through listening, mutual respect, and the shared pursuit of truth.
The following questions are posed in the interview:
- What is the relevance of philosophical societies for African philosophy today?
- What is the relationship between philosophy and politics?
- What is your philosophical method of “Dialogics” about?
- How would you address the problems surrounding unequal power distribution in philosophy?