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- Title
Between Kwasi Wiredu's Humanistic Ethics and Motsamai Molefe's Supernaturalist Ethics.
- Authors
Agada, Ada
- Abstract
Wiredu has argued that traditional Akan (African) ethics is humanistic in orientation and that human welfare, rather than God's will, is the basis of morality. In response, Motsamai Molefe asserts that Wiredu's conclusion overlooks the supernaturalist dimension of traditional African ontology which presents God as the apex being in the universe and the ultimate ground of reality. According to Molefe, a vitalistic conception of God supports the claim that an African supernaturalist ethics is possible. He proceeds to develop an intriguing supernaturalist vitality-based ethics that makes God the foundation of morality. I argue in this article that while Molefe indeed succeeds in demonstrating the possibility of an African supernaturalist ethics, Wiredu's humanistic framework has a practical advantage over Molefe's supernaturalist framework to the extent that the problem of revelation in African Traditional Religion forces Molefe's supernaturalist ethics to assume a speculative aspect. I point out that a vitalistic God who acts intentionally may well define morality in terms of a divine property like knowledge rather than vitality.
- Subjects
WIREDU, Kwasi, 1931-2022; MOLEFE, Motsamai; HUMANISTIC ethics; ONTOLOGY; VITALITY
- Publication
Philosophia, 2023, Vol 51, Issue 4, p2285
- ISSN
0048-3893
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s11406-023-00680-7