A critique of Kwasi Wiredu’s humanism and impartiality
This article offers a critical reflection on Kwasi Wiredu’s moral theory. On the one hand, the article is concerned with the meta-ethical question regarding the nature of moral properties, specifically, whether they are physical (natural) or spiritual (supernatural). On the other, I reflect on one...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of the Free State
2016-01-01
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| Series: | Acta Academica |
| Online Access: | http://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/aa/article/view/1506 |
| _version_ | 1797265687139319808 |
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| author | Motsamai Molefe |
| author_facet | Motsamai Molefe |
| author_sort | Motsamai Molefe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
This article offers a critical reflection on Kwasi Wiredu’s moral theory. On the one hand, the article is concerned with the meta-ethical question regarding the nature of moral properties, specifically, whether they are physical (natural) or spiritual (supernatural). On the other, I reflect on one facet of Wiredu’s normative theory, namely, whether morality is best captured by partiality or impartiality in the African tradition. With regards to meta-ethics, this article reflects that Wiredu’s rejection of a spiritual (supernaturalist) foundation of African ethics is unsatisfactory; I also contend that he does not offer a satisfactory defence of physicalism. I conclude by observing that a plausible meta-ethical theory, either physicalist or religious, is yet to be elaborated within the African tradition. Secondly, I argue that Wiredu’s normative theory is characterised by a feature – impartiality – that is at odds with much of African moral intuitions. Assertions like ‘charity begins at home’ seem to suggest that African ethics should be read in terms of partiality rather than impartiality.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T04:45:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a8ff0dd477fe4e6ab2c7fb71143406af |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0587-2405 2415-0479 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-25T00:48:45Z |
| publishDate | 2016-01-01 |
| publisher | University of the Free State |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acta Academica |
| spelling | doaj.art-a8ff0dd477fe4e6ab2c7fb71143406af2024-03-11T23:03:45ZengUniversity of the Free StateActa Academica0587-24052415-04792016-01-01481A critique of Kwasi Wiredu’s humanism and impartialityMotsamai Molefe0University of KwaZulu-Natal This article offers a critical reflection on Kwasi Wiredu’s moral theory. On the one hand, the article is concerned with the meta-ethical question regarding the nature of moral properties, specifically, whether they are physical (natural) or spiritual (supernatural). On the other, I reflect on one facet of Wiredu’s normative theory, namely, whether morality is best captured by partiality or impartiality in the African tradition. With regards to meta-ethics, this article reflects that Wiredu’s rejection of a spiritual (supernaturalist) foundation of African ethics is unsatisfactory; I also contend that he does not offer a satisfactory defence of physicalism. I conclude by observing that a plausible meta-ethical theory, either physicalist or religious, is yet to be elaborated within the African tradition. Secondly, I argue that Wiredu’s normative theory is characterised by a feature – impartiality – that is at odds with much of African moral intuitions. Assertions like ‘charity begins at home’ seem to suggest that African ethics should be read in terms of partiality rather than impartiality. http://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/aa/article/view/1506 |
| spellingShingle | Motsamai Molefe A critique of Kwasi Wiredu’s humanism and impartiality Acta Academica |
| title | A critique of Kwasi Wiredu’s humanism and impartiality |
| title_full | A critique of Kwasi Wiredu’s humanism and impartiality |
| title_fullStr | A critique of Kwasi Wiredu’s humanism and impartiality |
| title_full_unstemmed | A critique of Kwasi Wiredu’s humanism and impartiality |
| title_short | A critique of Kwasi Wiredu’s humanism and impartiality |
| title_sort | critique of kwasi wiredu s humanism and impartiality |
| url | http://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/aa/article/view/1506 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT motsamaimolefe acritiqueofkwasiwiredushumanismandimpartiality AT motsamaimolefe critiqueofkwasiwiredushumanismandimpartiality |