On Limited Communitarianism: Matolino’s Thinking and the Changing African World
In the corpus of African philosophy, Bernard Matolino has made a substantial contribution to the development of communitarian theory, offering a fresh perspective on the concept. While his predecessors, such as Ifeanyi Menkiti and Kwame Gyekye, proposed radical and moderate forms of communitarianism...
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Conversational Society of Philosophy (CSP)
2024-12-01
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| author | Mutshidzi MARAGANEDZHA |
| author_facet | Mutshidzi MARAGANEDZHA |
| author_sort | Mutshidzi MARAGANEDZHA |
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| description | In the corpus of African philosophy, Bernard Matolino has made a substantial contribution to the development of communitarian theory, offering a fresh perspective on the concept. While his predecessors, such as Ifeanyi Menkiti and Kwame Gyekye, proposed radical and moderate forms of communitarianism, Matolino argues that these accounts are inadequate in capturing the rapidly evolving African reality. For instance, Menkiti’s radical communitarianism emphasized the community’s role in shaping individual identity, whereas Gyekye’s moderate approach sought to strike a balance between individual and communal interests. In response, Matolino introduces the concept of limited communitarianism, which acknowledges the dynamic nature of African societies and offers a more nuanced understanding of communitarianism. This concept recognizes that communities are not static entities but rather adapt to changing circumstances, and, thus, our understanding of communitarianism must also evolve. This article serves as a timely reminder to scholars and theorists of communitarianism to re-examine their assumptions and approaches to the African reality with a more nuanced and adaptable perspective. It underscores the importance of recognizing the complexities of our past, acknowledging the diversity of our present, and envisioning a future that is responsive to the changing needs and aspirations of African communities. By doing so, we can move beyond dogmatic and rigid interpretations of communitarianism and instead embrace a more inclusive and dynamic understanding of African reality. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f17558547c684fd383dcd7a465a9a7ca |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2788-7928 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Conversational Society of Philosophy (CSP) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Arụmarụka |
| spelling | doaj-art-f17558547c684fd383dcd7a465a9a7ca2025-01-06T13:49:25ZengConversational Society of Philosophy (CSP)Arụmarụka2788-79282024-12-01426281https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ajct.v4i2.5On Limited Communitarianism: Matolino’s Thinking and the Changing African WorldMutshidzi MARAGANEDZHA0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3428-2611Department of Philosophy, North-West University, South AfricaIn the corpus of African philosophy, Bernard Matolino has made a substantial contribution to the development of communitarian theory, offering a fresh perspective on the concept. While his predecessors, such as Ifeanyi Menkiti and Kwame Gyekye, proposed radical and moderate forms of communitarianism, Matolino argues that these accounts are inadequate in capturing the rapidly evolving African reality. For instance, Menkiti’s radical communitarianism emphasized the community’s role in shaping individual identity, whereas Gyekye’s moderate approach sought to strike a balance between individual and communal interests. In response, Matolino introduces the concept of limited communitarianism, which acknowledges the dynamic nature of African societies and offers a more nuanced understanding of communitarianism. This concept recognizes that communities are not static entities but rather adapt to changing circumstances, and, thus, our understanding of communitarianism must also evolve. This article serves as a timely reminder to scholars and theorists of communitarianism to re-examine their assumptions and approaches to the African reality with a more nuanced and adaptable perspective. It underscores the importance of recognizing the complexities of our past, acknowledging the diversity of our present, and envisioning a future that is responsive to the changing needs and aspirations of African communities. By doing so, we can move beyond dogmatic and rigid interpretations of communitarianism and instead embrace a more inclusive and dynamic understanding of African reality.limited communitarianismcommunitarianismpersonhoodindividual rights |
| spellingShingle | Mutshidzi MARAGANEDZHA On Limited Communitarianism: Matolino’s Thinking and the Changing African World Arụmarụka limited communitarianism communitarianism personhood individual rights |
| title | On Limited Communitarianism: Matolino’s Thinking and the Changing African World |
| title_full | On Limited Communitarianism: Matolino’s Thinking and the Changing African World |
| title_fullStr | On Limited Communitarianism: Matolino’s Thinking and the Changing African World |
| title_full_unstemmed | On Limited Communitarianism: Matolino’s Thinking and the Changing African World |
| title_short | On Limited Communitarianism: Matolino’s Thinking and the Changing African World |
| title_sort | on limited communitarianism matolino s thinking and the changing african world |
| topic | limited communitarianism communitarianism personhood individual rights |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mutshidzimaraganedzha onlimitedcommunitarianismmatolinosthinkingandthechangingafricanworld |