An analysis of Odera Oruka’s philosophic sagacity manifestation in the Tharaka community wise sayings in Tharaka Nithi county, Kenya

Abstract

Henry Odera Oruka defined philosophic sagacity as body of thought produced by persons considered wise by their communities. To understand the concept of philosophic sagacity discourse, this study contextualized that Odera Oruka‘s philosophic sagacity was first an attempt to distinguish and distance an African philosophical position from ethno-philosophy that was at the time vehemently criticized as lacking the critical aspect of professional philosophy, considered to be the hallmark of philosophy. Oruka considered philosophic sagacity as logical and critical African wisdom endowed to African individuals who because of the depth of their reasoning were able to build strong African traditional community. This research critically analyzed Odera Oruka‘s philosophic sagacity and its manifestation in Tharaka community wise sayings. By studying Odera Oruka‘s philosophical sagacity through the lens of Tharaka traditional wise sayings, the research‘s main objective was to understand the philosophical wisdom endowed and communicated in the community‘s wise sayings for individual and societal well-being. The need for the study was prompted by over emphasis on systematic Western philosophy since scholastic time that has continued to devalue traditional African wisdom which was not only a foundation of African philosophy but also the wisdom behind African traditional societal development. This problem was enhanced by the debate on misunderstanding among African and Western Philosophers as to what constitutes a philosophical concept or discourse in Africa. The study used rational-analytical philosophical approach in addressing the problem of the study. The critical- analytical approach or method of philosophizing that has been used for the analysis is widely associated with philosophy as an academic discipline and finds it‘s lasting expression in the questioning attitude of Ancient Greek philosopher Socrates. The study employed three theories, namely: communitarianism, hermeneutics and postcolonial theory. The study was library based, drawing resources from published and unpublished works, journals as well as digital sources. The research findings point to contribution of deeper understanding of African wisdom and an added knowledge in the academic pool in the field of African Philosophy.