What is Consciencism? (Philosophy of Kwame Nkrumah)

[@kanyotumunene2665]

Socialism and communal life was the rule of 95% of African political social and economic structure. The tribes that had heirachy where the one's influenced by contact with islam before colonialism. In Eastern Africa particularly in my country Kenya, every boy was required to be a warrior. Chiefs had a more spiritual role rather than political. The highest political structure was The Council of Elders who made political decisions, resolved disputes and deliberated on weighty issues affecting the community. Communities such as the Swahili had heirachies due to influence from the Arabs and Islam. To this date, even in our history i still haven't learnt of a Bantu or Nilotic tribe in East Africa that had a heirachical systems before colonialism. Yes, trade was taking place but organized by a chief with the backing of the community. The proceeds went straight to the families involved in trade. Chiefs did not recieve taxes or any form of compesation. The community would appreciate the Chief by helping the family work on their fields or herd his livestock. There are even instances where some tribes where headed by Women due to the level of equality and respect that existed between the genders.

[@lindaasafo-adjei106]

Osagefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah was a Unique Noble man who had unique qualities and ideologies and a man who had principles for humanitarian support for Ghana and Africa.

[@jennyaskswhy]

Great video. It is always interesting to be exposed to new ideas and this one merits further research

[@fentonmulley5895]

Wow!! What a cool video!! I love Kwame!!

[@arallskiant9923]

Materialism definitely has many historical link (liberation theology etc) with both islam and christianity but weirdly enough not in its metaphysical understanding (non-dialectical, before marx). Otherwise they might indeed be too (neo)atheist focusing on the ideological superctructure as a naive/magical understanding of social phenomenon (and so even have similar narratives of the far-right/conservatists theists).

[@deismaccountant]

The immaterial deity problem is a Misunderstanding. Material is only primary relative to us, having emerged from matter. And any deity I respect does not need to be omnipotent either. Omnipotence and Omnibenevolence are Mutually exclusive in our universe full of suffering. I wish the Consciencism name wasn’t restricted to Nkrumaism, because I know of other pantheons and pagan paths that would greatly benefit from such an outlook. He was onto something other than the monotheism.

[@chahuncoller]

I suggest you a video. Watch this short video for results on intelligence and the self that even philosophy and psychology professors haven't achieved yet. The name of the video is WHAT IS TABULA RASA? WHAT IS IQ INTELLIGENCE? WHAT IS THE CORRELATION BETWEEN THEM?

[@subliminallime4321]

It definitely seems to me that he started with a conclusion that he wanted to arrive at & then worked backwards. I wonder why he didn't just go with some sort of substance dualism, or maybe that was his intention...

[@beves_zyn9076]

I believe Nkrumah did a good job at weighing both sides without bias

[@InventiveHarvest]

I'm not well versed about African culture. But, I would expect that pre-colonial African societies were hierarchical and engaged in trade. That being said, cultures should endeavor to keep some of their distinctness in culture in the midst of pressure from modernization. Western style shirts and t-shirts are common all over the world these days - homogenizing the culture of the world. Even in US, we slip farther and farther from our gun-slinging wild west heritage. It is important to keep some distinctiveness while adapting to the modern status quo. The catch is to keep the good things from distinct cultures, and only take good things that modern culture offers. Different people have different ideas on what are the good things to keep. But hopefully, more and more people will realize that socialism is not one of those things

[@paulhaube]

Not a philosophy, but more an ideology.

[@humesspoon3176]

Are ideologies not technically philosophies at heart?

[@sarveshjewalikar9921]

Ideologies are knowledge and philosophy is study of knowledge

[@pcdm43145]

@@humesspoon3176 Not necessarily. Then, again; both terms are used so broadly, it really depends on how you define it in your head. Personally, I like to use the analogy that *ideologies* are _blueprints,_ and *philosophies* are _maps._ A blueprint is used to build, and a map is used to navigate. Blueprints are a plan, based on a preferred outcome (say, if you wanted to build a house). Maps are sets of observations, which put together, accurately describe the world around you (like, say a map of a state or country). Think about it, this way: My own layman's understanding of Karl Marx, is that his concept of dialectical materialism is philosophy, wherein he tries to accurately describe the causes that shape human history with it; while socialism and communism are ideologies, in that he advocates for a certain goal, and suggests certain strategies and tactics for achieving it. Now, Im sure you could easily find a handful of Marxist scholars who would quibble with how roughly I've defined Marx's life's work, but it workable enough for me. So, in explaining how I define these things, Kwame Nkrumah's ideas seem more like ideology, than they do philosophy. But, you're free to make your own definitions, and come to your own conclusions. Anyway, if you had enough patience to read that whole thing, I hope it was helpful or useful to you. All the best, my friend.

[@paulhaube]

If it comes from the mind, it is imagined, an idea, a fantasy a dream, even if stimulated from the senses. If one hears “good” music, it feels nice and the imagination images “good” things. If one sees his boss, the mind sees demons ;-). A healthy and clear mind, applying the principles and technics of logic will distinguish what is real, true and virtuous... according to his understanding of his self and soul. Be well.

[@martiallaw9509]

This is powerful and extremely interesting. The Western thought systems are Beautiful but the rising tide of African Culture is forming Syncretism of variant systems which includes African idiologoes or more practical systems. Good presentation. I'm constantly moving between multiple philosophies to bind without error.

[@deepashtray5605]

Given that socialism, as I understand it, involves a central government controlling the economy, then I fail to see how precolonial Africa (the cultures which had not developed resource based urban societies) could be socialist. Just because there is a different cultural concept of ownership doesn't mean it is socialism.

[@moustachio05]

Then you've misunderstood Socialism

[@moustachio05]

Socialism isn't about the state controlling the economy its about the collective ownership of the means of production (for example factories) by workers

[@deepashtray5605]

@@moustachio05 Not according to the definition.

[@Dayglodaydreams]

I'm a little surprised at how Socialist I've become (really I'm a Social Democrat, but that distinction is a fine-grained one). I heard the Socialist stuff and I nodded my head with no objection.

[@CarneadesOfCyrene]

I think that there are few "pure" capitalists that think all industries should be private (see the military, the police, etc.), and there are few "pure" socialists who think everything should be state-owned. Most are somewhere in the middle, and all sit on a spectrum somewhere, but such nuances often get lost in the desire to be divisive and rail against authoritarian communism or "late capitalism".

[@aristippuscode]

Great idea. But...