Jonathan Chimakonam

University of Calabar
  •  5
    Ka Osi Sọ Onye: African philosophy in the postmodern era (edited book)
    with Edwin E. Etieyibo, Olatunji A. Oyeshile, and Ifeanyi Menkiti
    Vernon Press. 2018.
    This collection is about composing thought at the level of modernism and decomposing it at the postmodern level where many cocks might crow with African philosophy as a focal point. It has two parts: part one is titled 'The journey of reason in African philosophy', and part two is titled 'African philosophy and postmodern thinking'. There are seven chapters in both parts. Five of the essays are reprinted here as important selections while nine are completely new essays commissioned for this book…Read more
  •  6
    Introduction
    with Aribiah David Attoe, Samuel T. Segun, Victor Nweke, and Umezurike John Ezugwu
    In Aribiah David Attoe, Segun Samuel Temitope, Victor Nweke, John Umezurike & Jonathan Okeke Chimakonam (eds.), Conversations on African Philosophy of Mind, Consciousness and Artificial Intelligence, Springer Verlag. pp. 1-5. 2023.
    Philosophy of mind as a branch of philosophy has been growing. With a vast array of literature stemming from Plato to Descartes, down to Daniel Dennett and Paul and Patricia Churchland, there is no doubt that a lot has been said in that area regarding the mind-body problem, consciousness, the role of the human brain, etc. More so, with the advancement in neuroscience, newer and more interesting discussions linking neuroscience to philosophy of mind is inevitable. Equally as interesting, is the p…Read more
  •  26
    Conversations on African Philosophy of Mind, Consciousness and Artificial Intelligence (edited book)
    with Aribiah David Attoe, Segun Samuel Temitope, Victor Nweke, and John Umezurike
    Springer Verlag. 2023.
    This book offers a first glimpse into contemporary African Philosophical thought, which covers issues related to the mind-body relationships, the problem of consciousness, the ethics of artificial intelligence, the meaning of life and other topics. Taking inspiration from the conversational tradition in African philosophy, this book not only engages with and takes inspiration from traditional African thought, but also engages with philosophical views outside the philosophical tradition in a bid …Read more
  •  6
    Logic and African Philosophy: Seminal Essays on African Systems of Thought aims to put African intellectual history in perspective, with focus on the subjects of racism, logic, language, and psychology. The volume seeks to fill in the gaps left by the exclusion of African thinkers that are frequent in the curricula of African schools concerning history, sociology, philosophy, and cultural studies. The book is divided into four parts that are preceded by an introduction to link up the essays and …Read more
  •  15
    The Problem of Evil from a Decolonial Viewpoint
    Philosophia: International Journal of Philosophy (Philippine e-journal) 24 (1): 51-72. 2023.
    In this article, we contest the idea that evil does not exist, or that it is a mistaken grasp of reality to contend that evil exists. We analyze two versions of this argument: the 'orchestra argument' and the 'mystical argument.' In common, these arguments contend that those who affirm the existence of evil in the world have a limited view of reality. We argue that these views are either over-abstract from reality or do not offer a plausible approach to the problem of evil. We then advance a dec…Read more
  •  15
    The Logical Problem of Evil and African War Ethics
    Journal of Military Ethics 21 (3): 272-285. 2022.
    The morality of war has been debated from a variety of perspectives. However, it has rarely been intertwined with the topic of the existence of God. Sometimes anti-theists argue that the existence of a Western Judeo-Christian God who is omnipotent, omniscient and morally perfect is inconsistent with the existence of evils such as war. We will argue that there is no such logical inconsistency between the God of the African traditional religions and the evil of war. First, we contend that such a l…Read more
  •  10
    Afro-Communitarianism and the Question of Individual Freedom
    with Chukwuemeka Awugosi
    Philosophia: International Journal of Philosophy (Philippine e-journal) 21 (1): 34-49. 2020.
    In this essay, we explore the possibility and the extent of individual freedom within the Afro-communitarian set up. We contend that every community is made up of individuals whose association constitutes the community and as such, that the idea of individual freedom is not only possible but could be necessary. Granted that the idea of communitarianism presupposes the domination of communal values over individual endowments, we contend, nonetheless that when the idea of primordiality of private …Read more
  •  15
    The Imperatives of Critical Thinking in Intercultural Philosophy
    with Dorothy N. Oluwagbemi-Jacob
    Philosophia Africana 21 (2): 100-117. 2022.
    In this research, an attempt is made to interrogate the practice of intercultural philosophy with a view to showing that the critical thinking mindset is imperative for a balanced, progressive, and respectful intercultural engagement. A world in which cultures relate to one another on the basis of equality, mutual respect, and recognition of one another’s identity and rights has remained elusive. The need for such a world and the dynamics of such transcultural relations form the central themes o…Read more
  •  9
    Self-Preservation and Coloniality
    with Dorothy N. Oluwagbemi-Jacob
    Dialogue and Universalism 33 (1): 111-128. 2023.
    In this paper, we will critically examine the notion of rationality and the disabling instinct of self-preservation that play out in human relationships. That “man is a rational animal,” as Aristotle declared is usually taken for granted in social studies. But whether humans act rationally all the time, and in all circumstances remains questionable. Here, we shall investigate this concern from a decolonial perspective by engaging some contradictions thrown up in the context of coloniality within…Read more
  •  4
    This essay is an attempt to address some concerns raised in rejoinders to my theory. I summarise the main concerns in the question, “What is this thing called the System of Conversational Thinking?” Three respectable colleagues, Chad Harris, Bruce Janz and Bernard Matolino have articulated some critical questions, which they hope that in addressing them, I would come to improve the System of Conversational Thinking considerably. In this essay, I would reply to their criticisms, but more specific…Read more
  •  3
    African Philosophy and the Epistemic Marginalization of Women (edited book)
    with Louise Du Toit
    Routledge. 2018.
    This book examines the underexplored notion of epistemic marginalization of women in the African intellectual place. Women's issues are still very much neglected by governments, corporate bodies and academics in sub-Saharan Africa. The entrenched traditional world-views which privilege men over women make it difficult for the modern day challenges posed by the neglect of the feminine epistemic perspective, to become obvious. Contributors address these issues from both theoretical and practical p…Read more
  •  37
    Eight Practical Issues in Contemporary African Philosophy
    In Jonathan O. Chimakonam, Edwin Etieyibo & Ike Odimegwu (eds.), Essays on Contemporary Issues in African Philosophy, Springer Verlag. pp. 1-26. 2021.
    In this chapter, we revisit some of these central and unresolved practical problems facing contemporary African philosophy. We have identified racism, poverty, religion, gender, Afrophobia, sexuality, democracy and environment as some of the topical and contentious issues in post-colonial sub-Saharan Africa. Although these issues have been extensively dealt with in the literature in philosophy in general, they have largely been understood from different Western philosophical persuasions. Even th…Read more
  •  7
    Why the Normative Conception of Personhood is Problematic: A Proposal for a Conversational Account
    In Jonathan O. Chimakonam, Edwin Etieyibo & Ike Odimegwu (eds.), Essays on Contemporary Issues in African Philosophy, Springer Verlag. pp. 91-106. 2021.
    In this chapter, I seek to problematise the normative account of personhood put forward by Ifeanyi Menkiti and variously defended by those who could be described as menkitians. I argue that the normative account is grossly inadequate because it makes some weak and dangerous assumptions. I show how these assumptions deflate Menkiti’s theory, and I contend that a person can be better conceptualised as a ‘being in conversation.’ When one thinks of personhood as a ‘capacity’ in a person to engage in…Read more
  •  14
    Indigenous African Religions (IARs) and the Relational Value of Tolerance: Addressing the evil of violent conflicts in Africa
    Filosofia Theoretica: Journal of African Philosophy, Culture and Religions 11 (1): 97-114. 2022.
    This essay argues that the inherent value of Indigenous African Religions, which ensures that the belief in different gods does not eclipse the fact of common humanity might be of importance to contemporary Africa plagued by ceaseless conflicts. The IAR ideology contrasts, for example, with that of Christianity which views the Christian God as the one true God and regards those who worship a different God as pagans and gentiles. It also contrasts with the ideology of Islam, which views Allah as …Read more
  •  17
    African Philosophy of Religion from a Global Perspective: Deities, Ancestors, Relationality and the Problem of Evil
    Filosofia Theoretica: Journal of African Philosophy, Culture and Religions 11 (1): 1-8. 2022.
    In this essay, we explore what the African Philosophy of Religion would look like from both a mono-disciplinary and comparative perspectives. To do this, a few concepts such as Gods, ancestorhood, relationality, and the problem of evil that appear in the essays in this special issue will be highlighted. Our aim here is not to provide a lengthy and rigorous analysis of the field of African Philosophy of Religion or even some of its main concepts, but to offer a platform for continuing discussion …Read more
  •  37
    This book focuses on African metaphysics and epistemology, and is an exercise in decoloniality. The authors describe their approach to "decoloniality" as an intellectual repudiation of coloniality, using the method of conversational thinking grounded in Ezumezu logic. Focusing specifically on both African metaphysics and African epistemology, the authors put forward theories formulated to stimulate fresh debates and extend the frontiers of learning in the field. They emphasize that this book is …Read more
  •  23
    Essays on Contemporary Issues in African Philosophy (edited book)
    with Edwin Etieyibo and Ike Odimegwu
    Springer Verlag. 2021.
    This volume is a collection of chapters about contemporary issues within African philosophy. They are issues African philosophy must grapple with to demonstrate its readiness to make a stand against some of the challenges society faces in the coming decade such as xenophobia, Afro-phobia, extreme poverty, democratic failure and migration. The text covers new methodical directions and there is focus on the conversationalist, complementarist and consolationist movements within the field as well as…Read more
  •  7
    This essay argues that the inherent value of Indigenous African Religions, which ensures that the belief in different gods does not eclipse the fact of common humanity might be of importance to contemporary Africa plagued by ceaseless conflicts. The IAR ideology contrasts, for example, with that of Christianity which views the Christian God as the one true God and regards those who worship a different God as pagans and gentiles. It also contrasts with the ideology of Islam, which views Allah as …Read more
  •  20
    In this essay, we explore what the African Philosophy of Religion would look like from both a mono-disciplinary and comparative perspectives. To do this, a few concepts such as Gods, ancestorhood, relationality, and the problem of evil that appear in the essays in this special issue will be highlighted. Our aim here is not to provide a lengthy and rigorous analysis of the field of African Philosophy of Religion or even some of its main concepts, but to offer a platform for continuing discussion …Read more
  • Editorial
    Filosofia Theoretica 9 (3): 5-6. 2020.
  •  1
    I argue that one way in which a problem such as mass poverty in the sub-Saharan Africa can be addressed is through inclusive development, which is a pro poor, pro all, programme. However, it appears that the theoretical framework that can deliver the values of inclusive development has yet to be clearly sorted out. This is because, while bringing together all actors and factors, inclusive development should not subsume individual endowments to collective values. I fault Amartya Sen’s Capabilitie…Read more
  •  4
    Can Individual Autonomy and Rights be Defended in Afro-Communitarianism?
    Filosofia Theoretica 7 (2): 122-140. 2018.
    I argue that individual autonomy and rights can be defended but only in African or qualified version of communitarianism. I posit that there are two possible versions of communitarianism: the qualified or the African and the unqualified or the version discussed mostly by Western scholars. I show that Ifeanyi Menkiti, Kwame Gyekye, Michael Eze and Bernard Matolino have formulated communitarian theories of right in African philosophy. I explain that while Menkiti and Gyekye erroneously employed th…Read more
  •  1
    African Studies through Language-based Techniques
    with Ndubuisi Osuagwu
    Filosofia Theoretica 7 (1): 101-124. 2018.
    In this article, we argue that language-based techniques have the capacity to generate original ideas and thus account for progress in any discipline. We claim that language-based techniques used by some African scholars such as hermeneutics and related ones such as transliteration are creatively inadequate to inspire progress because they do not lead to the creation of new concepts and original ideas in African thought. We claim also that the technique of intellectual decolonisation with its fo…Read more
  • This conversation is inspired by Uduma O. Uduma’s essay entitled “The Question of the ‘African’ in African Philosophy: In search of a Criterion for the Africanness of a Philosophy”. In this essay, Uduma coined what he calls “the Africanness of a Philosophy Question which consists in the ultimate criterion for African philosophy. He was not the first to dwell on the Africanness issue in African philosophy but he was the first, to my knowledge, to christen it as such. Before Uduma framed the quest…Read more
  • Africa is in economic and social terms widely regarded as an underdeveloped continent even though we in interrogatory theory would prefer the termdeveloping instead. Its societies are characterized by unstable institutions. Societies ride on the wheels of institutions. Institutions are social structures orbuilding blocks of any society. Repressive colonial times replaced traditional institutions with non-compatible ones ignoring any usable part of tradition andadmitting without censorship every …Read more
  • Quantification in African Logic
    Filosofia Theoretica 2 (2): 409-422. 2013.
  •  2
    The dominance of methods of mathematical reasoning such as the axiomatic method in modern logic has taken a toll on the independent development of logicas a separate discipline. However, the emergence of other non-standard systems of logic which could be described as postmodernist shows how a radical breakmight be necessary in salvaging logic from the grip of mathematics. Our goal in this essay would be to propose and articulate a post modern formalist methodcalled Ududo Reasoning for logic.
  • Idea of African Numeric System
    Filosofia Theoretica 2 (1): 223-238. 2013.