Discuss the different contradictory tenets of Western Cartesian philosophical thought and Africana thought. (Pay special attention to Henry's treatment of Cartesian philosophical thought.).
A principle contradictory tenet between Western Cartesian and Africana philosophies is autonomy. Western thought is not inclusive of religion or mythology; Western thought is autonomous. The practice itself began as a revolt against mythology. Written discourse of a certain formulation can be considered Western philosophy as only then can it be argued and interpreted with respect to validity. Western thought dismissed the interdisciplinary ideas that are not only included in but helped form the Africana metaphilosophy. Western Cartesian thought includes the metaphilosophy of Western thought but goes one step further; Descartes" metaphilosophy also incorporated an individual's personal thoughts (although not tangible) and personal identity.
In a different philosophic sense, Africana thought (as argued by Paget Henry) is not only inclusive of philosophy but also of religion and other disciplines. As practices, mythology and religion are precursors to the relatively new discipline of philosophy. Henry, among others, dispute the ways in which Western thought neglects the importance of intertextual and interdisciplinary discourse. Africana philosophy is open to and includes folklore, mythology, narratives, etc. Primarily, for Henry, Africana thought is diverse. Henry even goes as far as to claim that Western Cartesian thought is too narrow because it is not intertextual nor is it accepting of expanding cultures. Validity in (textual) discourse is not as important as who makes a claim. These unwritten customs and traditions, according to Africana philosophy and in direct contradiction with Western Cartesian philosophy, are an important collection of ideas that make up the metaphilosophy. .
2. Compare and contrast Garvey's Black Nationalism with Nkrumah's African Nationalism.
