Theophilus Okere

Theophilus Ibegbulam Okere (1940–2020) was a Nigerian philosopher, theologian and Catholic priest whose work made a major contribution to modern African philosophy. Quotes Philosophy is really a manufacturing from raw materials. It is a forging out of thought from the materials of culture. Okere was explaining his hermeneutical conception of African philosophy. He regarded culture as the source material from which philosophical reflection can develop, rather than treating cultural beliefs themselves as already constituting philosophy. Not only African philosophy but all philosophy is hermeneutical in nature, meaning simply that all philosophy is an effort of interpretative understanding, understanding one’s world. Okere was presenting the central idea underlying his hermeneutical approach. He argued that philosophy involves interpretation and understanding of the world, rather than being restricted to one geographical or cultural tradition. Philosophical reflection is the process of explication, an uncovering, a disclosure, an unfolding of the meaning and sense implied in those objectivations of life which are symbols. Okere was explaining what he meant by philosophical reflection within his hermeneutical method. He connected reflection with interpreting symbols and uncovering meanings embedded within cultural life. African cultures have their own symbols pregnant with meaning. Okere was arguing that African cultures contain symbols capable of becoming objects of philosophical reflection. The task of philosophy is to interpret those symbols and make their implicit meanings explicit. A reflection on these symbols with a view to making the implicit meanings explicit would constitute African philosophy. This is central to Okere's definition of the hermeneutical task in African philosophy. He proposed that philosophical reflection on the meaningful symbols found within African cultures could constitute African philosophy. All philosophy is essentially an historical and time bound interpretation of being. Okere was relating philosophy to historical and cultural circumstances. His argument was that philosophical reflection does not occur outside history but interprets human existence within particular historical contexts. It is by interpreting the symbols of a culture that one can arrive at reflexion, philosophy. Okere was drawing on Paul Ricoeur's hermeneutics to explain the movement from cultural symbols to philosophical reflection. Cultural symbols provide material that can be interpreted and developed into reflective thought. Category:1940 births Category:2020 deaths Category:Philosophers from Nigeria Category:Theologians from Nigeria