Abstract

In his investigations of the existence of being human and Africana existence, Lewis R. Gordon devotes much attention to human subjectivity, inter-subjective affiliation and the relationality of knowledge. The above three crucial issues involve such important philosophical and cultural problems as the relation among human beings’ existence-in-the-world, cognition as subject, and their inter-subjective affiliation, revealing ties between human existence and the relationality of knowledge. Based on the Africana situation of existence, Gordon integrates Africana philosophy and his interpretation of Chinese philosophy in his reflection of the two crucial issues. He has listed such Chinese thinkers Lu Xun, Wang Yangming, Xiong Shili, Wang Ji, etc. as existentialists in the world. His philosophy of existence embodies an interracial and cross-cultural vision, inspiring us to further understand the connection and resonance of Africana philosophy and Chinese philosophy in illuminating the existence of humanity, including the spirit of cultural criticism that “seek[s] truth and critical thought,” the dialectical methodology of cognition, and the stress on individuals’ relations with other individuals and the world in which they live. Focusing on Gordon’s thought on human subjectivity, inter-subjective affiliation and the relationality of knowledge, this article presents an exploration of the connotations of Gordon’s Africana philosophy of existence and its significances for human understanding.

Highlights

  • Gordon has expounded on the existence of being human and Africana existence in many of his works

  • Inter-subjective affiliation and the relationality of knowledge are closely interwoven with human existence in Gordon’s philosophical and socio-cultural thought. In his profound reflections on the above four themes and their interrelated ties, certain resonances and spiritual dialogues that cross time and space may be found in Africana philosophy and Chinese philosophy, especially in the philosophical thought of Lu Xun2, Wang Yangming 3, Xiong Shili4, Wang Ji5

  • Gordon holds that a crucial feature of Africana philosophy of existence is its emphasis on the truth that human existence is the existence that impacts inter-subjectivity

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Summary

Introduction

Gordon has expounded on the existence of being human and Africana existence in many of his works In his systematic and detailed analyses of the crucial questions concerning this field, he has been rather concerned about humans’ subjectivity as existents and the subjects of cognition, his inter-subjective relations and the relationality of knowledge. He has discussed the above three vital issues in his books, Fanon and the Crisis of European Man: An Essay on Philosophy and the Human Sciences (1995), Her Majesty's Other Children: Sketches of Racism from a Neocolonial World (1997), Bad Faith and Antiblack Racism (1999), Existentia Africana (2000), An Introduction to Africana Philosophy (2008), What Fanon Said: A Philosophical Introduction to His Life and Thought (2015); and essays “Racism as a Form of Bad Faith” (1993), “Antirace Rhetoric and Other Misrepresentations of Racism in the Present Age” (1995), “Existential Borders of Anonymity and Superfluous Invisibility” (2000).

Human subjectivity in existence and cognition
Human existence in inter-subjective affiliation
The relationality of knowledge and human existence
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