What Is Conversational Philosophy? A Prescription of a New Theory and Method of Philosophising, in and Beyond African Philosophy

Jonathan Okeke Chimakonam

doi:10.25159/2413-3086/2874

Authors

Jonathan Okeke Chimakonam Jonathan O. Chimakonam PhD Philosophy, University of Calabar Area Editor: African Philosophy Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy http://www.iep.utm.edu/eds/ http://csp.unical.edu.ng/pages/iep/ Editor: Filosofia Theoretica: Journal of African Philosophy, Culture and Religions http://www.ajol.info/index.php/ft/index Editor: Atuolu Omalu: Some Unanswered Questions in Contemporary African Philosophy (Rowman & Littlefield, 2015)Just released Author: Arguments and Clarifications: A Philosophical Encounter between J. O. Chimakonam and M. I. Edet on the Ibuanyidandaness of Complementary Ontology...with Dr. M. I. Edet (2014) Author: Njikoka Amaka: Further Discussions on the Philosophy of Integrative Humanism (A Contribution to African and Intercultural Philosophies)... with Prof. G. O. Ozumba (2014) Editor: Existence and Consolation: Reinventing Ontology, Gnosis and Values in African Philosophy (by Ada Agada) Paragon House (2015) Convenor: The Calabar School of Philosophy (CSP) http://csp.unical.edu.ng

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25159/2413-3086/2874

Keywords:

Conversational philosophy, Africa, African philosophy, intercultural philosophy, conversationalism

Abstract

In this paper I discuss the meaning of the theory of conversational philosophy. I show that its background inspiration is derived from an under-explored African notion of relationship or communion or interdependence. I argue that conversational philosophy forms a theoretic framework on which most ethical, metaphysical and epistemological discourses in African philosophyâ€”and by African philosophersâ€”could be grounded. I call this framework the method of conversationalism. I unveil some of its basic principles and show its significance in and beyond African philosophy.