Karl Popper and Africa: Knowledge, Politics and Development

by Oseni Taiwo Afisi (Editor)

Overview

This book provides a diverse contextualization of Popper’s critical rationalism concerning knowledge and his generalized attitude of criticism on appropriate social and political reforms in contemporary Africa. The book evaluates how best to address contemporary political problems, especially in politically very troubled parts of the world. To address these contemporary problems, especially as it relates to Africa, the authors found the political philosophy of Popper as suitable. The discussion of Popper’s political philosophy engages us directly with all the particularities of socio-economic and political problems within contemporary Africa. In other words, it presents the truth of the present socio-political reality in Africa where the question of what kinds of political ideas and concepts can be offered as appropriate to a political environment, which so greatly faces facets of developmental issues.

Although the issues and events that informed the writings of Popper’s The Poverty of Historicism as well as The Open Society and Its Enemies, were among others, the rise of fascism and communism in Europe, the inventiveness of this work is how happily scholars in non-liberal societies, such as in Africa, can pick up Popper’s insights and usefully work with them to offer appropriate social reforms for their society. This volume is a critical juxtaposition of Popper’s ideas in a bid to make good sense of social and intellectual conditions in Africa, particularly as it relates to the scale and speed of social change that is needed in most African nations that are often ridden by corruption. The book is suitable for studies in political philosophy, economic and development studies, African Studies and Indigenous Knowledge systems.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783030742164
Publisher:	Springer International Publishing
Publication date:	09/14/2021
Edition description:	1st ed. 2021
Pages:	270
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x (d)

About the Author

Dr. Oseni Taiwo AFISI is current Head, Department of Philosophy, Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos, Nigeria. His areas of competence include critical thinking, logic, political philosophy and Philosophy of science with a special interest in Karl Popper’s critical rationalism. He had his Bachelor and Master’s degrees in Philosophy from the University of Lagos, Nigeria. He later proceeded to the University of Canterbury, New Zealand where he wrote his thesis on “Karl Popper’s Critical Rationalism and the Politics of Liberal-Communitarianism”, and obtained a PhD. degree in philosophy. He was a visiting academic to the Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia in 2011. He has attended several conferences and has published widely in highly revered journals.

Table of Contents

Popper and Politics In Africa,- 1. Karl Popper’s Social Engineering: Piecemeal Or ‘Many-Pieces-At-Once’?- Oseni Taiwo Afisi.- 2. Popper's Critique Of Nationalism And The Quest For Self-Determination In Postcolonial Africa- Adeolu Oluwaseyi Oyekan.- 3. Popper’s Piecemeal Social Engineering As The Basis For African Development- Chris Tasie Osegenwune.- 4. Karl Popper’s Myth Of The Framework: Exorcising Tribal Mentality In Modern African Society- Olayemi Salami.- 5 Karl Popper’s Political Philosophy Through The Eyes Of George Orwell’s Animal Farm: A Caution For Marxists In Africa- Babajide Olugbenga Dasaolu.- 6. An Exploration of Karl Popper Within The Context of Freedom in African Politics- Celestine Agoziem, Olayemi Jacob Ogunniyi and Adebakin Oluyinka Osoja.- 7. An exposition of the Liberal concept of Freedom in Popper's Political Philosophy and Africa’s Communitarianism- Daniel obasooto.- 8. An overview of Popper's position on liberalism within the confine of Politics in Africa-Adesina abdulfattah Raji, Muse Alade Mumuni and Adesuyi Kolawole Adekola.- 9. Art of government, postcolony and open society in Africa: optimism and aporia of a universal demand- Emmanuel Malolo Dissakè.- 10. Cooperativism as a Socio-economic Development Mechanism in Nigeria: Exploring the Popperian Philosophical Thinking- Ajibola Anthony Akanji.- 11. Karl Popper’s Critique Of Collectivism: Between Equalitarian And Totalitarian Justice- Oseni Taiwo Afisi.- 12. Ethno-religious Conflicts In Nigeria: Exploring Karl Popper’s Paradox of Tolerance- Temitope Oluwaseun Oluyemi.