Foundations of an African ethic : beyond the universal claims of western morality

Author / Creator

Bujo, Bénézet

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Summary

"In this book, Benezet Bujo offers a critique of Western ethics and lays the theoretical groundwork for a new African ethic. By drawing on themes from African life such as marriage, therapy, and ar...

"In this book, Benezet Bujo offers a critique of Western ethics and lays the theoretical groundwork for a new African ethic. By drawing on themes from African life such as marriage, therapy, and art, Bujo exposes the shortcomings of the philosophical anthropology implicit in Western ethics, comparing Western theories of natural law, discourse ethics, and communitarianism with the African emphasis on community and remembrance. He then considers whether African ethics can account for central Western values such as autonomy, freedom, and individual identity. Finally he considers how African ethics both challenges the church and contributes to its richness, suggesting that an African palaver ethic can integrate the best features of communitarianism and discourse ethics. This contribution to African theology will be of special interest to students of religion, comparative and non-Western philosophy, anthropology, and African studies, as well as anyone interested in contemporary ethics."--BOOK JACKET.

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