Barry Hallen

Barry Hallen is an American philosopher and Africanist scholar whose work has focused on African philosophy, epistemology, ethics and Yorùbá thought. He is best known for his collaborative work with J. Olubi Sodipo and for helping establish African philosophy as a rigorous academic discipline through studies of indigenous concepts of knowledge, belief and morality. Quotes "The task of African philosophy is not to imitate Western philosophy but to understand African systems of thought on their own terms." Knowledge, Belief and Witchcraft: Analytic Experiments in African Philosophy (with J. Olubi Sodipo, Stanford University Press, 1997). Barry Hallen discussing the objective of African philosophy and the importance of understanding African thought within its own intellectual traditions. "Philosophy begins by taking seriously the conceptual resources embedded in African languages." Knowledge, Belief and Witchcraft: Analytic Experiments in African Philosophy (with J. Olubi Sodipo, Stanford University Press, 1997). Barry Hallen discussing the role of African languages in philosophical inquiry. "Translation is never merely linguistic; it is also philosophical." The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful: Discourse about Values in Yorùbá Culture (Indiana University Press, 2000). Barry Hallen discussing the philosophical challenges of translating African concepts and values. "Understanding another culture requires patience with its concepts before judging them." A Short History of African Philosophy (Indiana University Press, 2002). Barry Hallen discussing the importance of understanding cultural concepts before making philosophical judgments. External links Category:Living people Category:Academics