Why Conversational Thinking Could be an Alternative Method for Intercultural Philosophy

ABSTRACT

In this paper, we argue that conversational thinking, a recent formulation in African philosophy, could be an alternative method for intercultural philosophising. We show that the etymology of conversational thinking comes from the Igbo word arumaruka meaning ‘constructive engagements amongst stakeholders who are in a relationship of creative struggle’. We contend that philosophers from different philosophic traditions are equal stakeholders in the knowledge enterprise called intercultural philosophy. We explain that in addition to dialogue and polylogue, two influential methods used by intercultural philosophers nowadays, conversational thinking could be a veritable alternative and a contribution from an underrepresented philosophic clime namely, the African philosophy tradition. We discuss the African philosophy roots of conversationalism, highlight the stages of intercultural engagement, and show what the method might look like in application.

KEYWORDS:

• Intercultural philosophy
• conversational philosophy
• conversationalism
• conversational thinking
• African philosophy
• dialogue
• polylogue

Acknowledgements

This paper was first presented at the Philosophy in the Desert Conference, on the theme ‘Comparative Philosophy at the Crossroads,’ American University of Dubai, UAE, between 7—8 April 2017. Critical and helpful feedback from colleagues at the conferences are hereby acknowledged.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Egbai Uti Ojah, PhD, is an Associate Professor at the Department of Philosophy, University of Calabar. His teaching and research interests include Philosophy of Science, African Philosophy and Feminism. Currently, he is the Director of the Centre for General Studies, University of Calabar. He aims to break new grounds in African philosophy, specifically in the areas of conversational philosophy and African feminist thought. Egbai has published in learned journals and has given lectures at different international conferences.

Jonathan O. Chimakonam, PhD, is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Philosophy, University of Calabar, Nigeria and a Research Associate at the Department of Philosophy, University of Johannesburg, South Africa. His teaching and research interests include African philosophy, Environmental ethics, postmodern thought, Logic and African political philosophy. His articles have appeared in reputable journals. He is the editor of Atuolu Omalu: Some Unanswered Questions in Contemporary African Philosophy (University Press of America, 2015); African Philosophy and Environmental Conservation (Routledge, 2017) and African Philosophy and the Epistemic Marginalisation of Women (with Louise Du 'Toit, Routledge, 2018).

ORCID

Jonathan O. Chimakonam http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8913-1434

Notes

1. see Chimakonam 2014b and Edet 2018 for the statement of their views on the history of African philosophy.

2. For examples of practical application of this method, see: Chimakonam 2015c; Nweke 2015a, 2015b, 2016a, Edet 2015, 2016; Attoe 2015; Segun 2015; Irem 2015; Ibanga 2017; and Uduagwu 2016; Egbai 2018b.