Philosophy from the Margins: Native American, Latin American and Africana Philosophy

Catalog description

A historical exploration of philosophical traditions that are marginalized in the current philosophical canon: the Native American, Latin American and Africana traditions. This course will survey major thinkers in each of these historically neglected areas of philosophical thought. For each unit, we will explore how each culture’s experiences shaped their philosophical views on metaphysics, epistemology and ethics, especially their experiences of exploitation, marginalization and colonialization. Through close reading of historical and contemporary texts, students will gain unique theoretical insight into philosophical systems that challenge conventional narratives and lend voice to cultures that have been historically excluded from mainstream philosophical inquiry. Thinkers to be covered include Vine Deloria Jr., VF Cordova, Anne Waters, Paulo Freire, Enrique Dussel, Franz Fanon, Anna Julia Cooper and Lewis Gordon, among others.