Contents:
1. Introduction:African Philosophy for the New Millenium Teodros Kiros 2. The Proverb and Oral Society 3. Society and Democracy in Africa 3. Ibn Khaldun:A Dialectical Philosopher for the Twenty-First Century George Katsiaficas
4. Critical Rationalism and Cultural Traditions Dismas Masolo 5. Normative Instability as the Cause of African Political Disorder I.F. Menkiti 6. The Wisdon of African Sages Gail M. Presbey 7. Ideology and Political Culture in Africa Ali Mazrui 7. Civil Society Matters Ajume Wingeo 8. Chieftancy as an NGO Anthony Appiah 9. Democracy in Africa Immanuel Eze

Contents:
1. Introduction:African Philosophy for the New Millenium Teodros Kiros 2. The Proverb and Oral Society 3. Society and Democracy in Africa 3. Ibn Khaldun:A Dialectical Philosopher for the Twenty-First Century George Katsiaficas
4. Critical Rationalism and Cultural Traditions Dismas Masolo 5. Normative Instability as the Cause of African Political Disorder I.F. Menkiti 6. The Wisdon of African Sages Gail M. Presbey 7. Ideology and Political Culture in Africa Ali Mazrui 7. Civil Society Matters Ajume Wingeo 8. Chieftancy as an NGO Anthony Appiah 9. Democracy in Africa Immanuel Eze

"The Struggle for Meaning" is a landmark publication by one of African philosophy's leading figures, Paulin J. Hountondji, best known for his critique of ethnophilosophy in the late 1960s and early 1970s. In this volume, he responds with autobiographical and philosophical reflection to the dialogue and controversy he has provoked. He discusses the ideas, rooted in the work of such thinkers as Husserl and Hountondji's former teachers Derrida, Althusser, and Ricoeur, that helped shape his critique.
Applying his philosophical ideas to the critical issues of democracy, culture, and development in Africa today, he addresses three crucial topics: the nexus between scientific extraversion and economic dependence; the nature of endogenous traditions of thought and their relationship with modern science; and the implications--for political pluralism and democracy--of the emergence of "philosophies of subject" in Africa.
While the book's immediate concern is with Africa, the densely theoretical nature of its analyses, and its bearing on current postmodern theories of the "other," will make this timely and elegant translation of great interest to many disciplines, especially ethnic, gender, and multicultural studies.