Many African epistemologists consider themselves as either Universalist or Relativist about theories of knowledge. Despite the instinctive appeal of the former and latter, many of their advocates are at crossroads about the relevance of both positions to African philosophy. This paper focuses on the plausibility of both positions, in order to see if African epistemology can be used to critique western epistemology. First, we argue that it is important to make a distinction between the former and later- one which is more communal and the other which tends to be individualistic. Second, after making the distinction between both, we postulate that the Universalist position attribute knowledge as the same across all cultures. This makes it problematic for theories of knowledge. Third, there is the recommendation that any relativist position must begin by defending the uniqueness of African epistemology, on the grounds that it employs a social epistemology that is situated in African ways of knowing, and this is one of the philosophical benefits which African epistemology offers. This paper concludes that there is no reason to doubt the view that African knowledge systems are rational enough to critique western theories of knowledge, which are deemed to be Eurocentric, Egocentric, Racist, and this critique is a positive appraisal rather than a negative appraisal.

Keywords: African, Western, Epistemology, Rationality, Relativists, Universalists, Knowledge

Written By:

Dr. Adeleye, Joseph Olusola

Bamikole Kehinde Oluwaseun
Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology,
Ikere Ekiti
adeleye.joseph@bouesti.edu.ng