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Between Particularism and Universalism: The Promise of Epistemic Contextualism in African Epistemology
Stockholm University, Faculty of Humanities, Department of Philosophy.
2021 (English)In: Pathways to Alternative Epistemologies in Africa / [ed] Adeshina Afolayan, Olajumoke Yacob-Haliso, Samuel Ojo Oloruntoba, Palgrave Macmillan, 2021, p. 19-33Chapter in book (Refereed)
Abstract [en]

This chapter proposes a version of epistemic contextualism, called inferentialist contextualism, as a promising research program within African epistemology. My suggestion should be seen against the background of the earlier debate between the seemingly incompatible positions of universalism and particularism. Whilst universalism has been charged with not allowing for diversity, of forcing African culture into the Procrustean bed of Western thought, particularism seems to block cross-cultural dialogue. A compromise is therefore called for. I argue that inferentialist contextualism can fill this need. One promising feature is that whilst traditional epistemology always places the burden of justification on the subject of knowledge, inferentialist contextualism distinguishes between three different contexts: except for the traditional one, a second where the burden of proof is shared by both the subject and any fellow who might challenge the belief and a third context where the burden lies solely on the inquiring fellow. The notion of default entitlement depicts beliefs falling within this third context and will be elaborated in some detail here. I argue that inferential contextualism permits greater contextual variety than traditional epistemology without collapsing into relativism.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Palgrave Macmillan, 2021. p. 19-33
Keywords [en]
Inferentialist contextualism, Universalism, Particularism, Default Entitlement
National Category
Philosophy
Research subject
Theoretical Philosophy
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:su:diva-188392DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-60652-7_2ISBN: 978-3-030-60651-0 (print)ISBN: 978-3-030-60652-7 (electronic)OAI: oai:DiVA.org:su-188392DiVA, id: diva2:1514755
Available from: 2021-01-07 Created: 2021-01-07 Last updated: 2022-02-25Bibliographically approved

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Janvid, Mikael

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CiteExportLink to record
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Citation style
  • apa
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