Journal of Philosophical Investigations

Karl Popper in Africa: Liberal-Communitarianism as Ideology for Democratic Social Reconstruction

Oseni Taiwo Afisi

Volume 17, Issue 42 , June 2023, , Pages 1-12

https://doi.org/10.22034/jpiut.2000.16561

Abstract

This paper examines the liberal society that Popper lauds, that aims to be truly open, and discusses why another, more communitarian kind of society, particularly societies in Africa, ... Read More This paper examines the liberal society that Popper lauds, that aims to be truly open, and discusses why another, more communitarian kind of society, particularly societies in Africa, may also reflect the quest for intellectual openness that is Popper’s ideal. Moreover, this paper avers reasons why Popper should be comfortable with such a liberal-communitarian mix. The inter-subjectivity in his critical rationalism is a balance of an explicit individualism, and an implicit social element (Afisi, 2016a). Popper is indeed an author of such a balance. For a society to be truly open requires the careful recognition and protection of individual freedom. However, the extent to which individuals are free to perform actions that they desire without external constraints, and the level of their individuality in relation to others when performing such actions, remain a contentious issue between liberals and more communitarian thinkers. Popper’s critical rationalism provides the necessary impetus to this contention through his view of freedom that I contend can best be viewed as carefully balanced, a view which combines individuality with a social element that upholds community values necessary for openness of society. With this combination, Popper’s politics of liberalism provides an effective model of how a truly open society can be achieved. The values inherent to Popper’s liberalism including those concerning intellectual openness, individual freedom, mutual respect, measured self-respect, welfarism, humanitarianism, accountability, critical debates and feedback from the citizens, together concern the conditions for a society to be truly open. There are many competing thoughts as to what openness might be in Popper’s philosophy. The present study of Popper does not presume to address them all. The focus here is specifically on using Popper’s idea of critical rationalism to balance relations between liberal politics of individual rights and freedom, and communitarian politics of the common good, as it relates to situations about how socio-economic and political conditions in Africa societies should be structured. While I contend that Popper’s works in political philosophy focused centrally on Western political tradition, and not about Africa in its strict sense, significant lessons can be distilled from Popper that can offer suggestions on social reforms in Africa. This paper explores Popper’s project of the open society across the plurality and differences of societies, so that his liberal ideas of individual freedom are not undermined, and the progress of the communitarian idea of the common good, that Africa societies are built upon, is also well enhanced. Liberal individualism and community values inherent to communitarianism are both well accommodated within Popper’s critical rationalism.

Popper in Greece

Georgios Archontas

Volume 17, Issue 42 , June 2023, , Pages 13-22

https://doi.org/10.22034/jpiut.2000.16563

Abstract

Notwithstanding Karl Popper’s deep admiration for ancient Greece and his affection for modern Greece, his work has been mostly viewed with caution by Greek scholars who, until ... Read More

Applying Critical Rationalism to Liberal Capitalism

Raphael Sassower

Volume 17, Issue 42 , June 2023, , Pages 225-241

https://doi.org/10.22034/jpiut.2023.16585

Abstract

Since Critical Rationalism is considered by some more of an attitude or mindset and by others a methodological approach to philosophical thinking and practical problem-solving, its ... Read More

Logical Content and Its Malcontents

David Miller

Volume 17, Issue 42 , June 2023, , Pages 281-297

https://doi.org/10.22034/jpiut.2023.16588

Abstract

The doctrine that the content of the conclusion of a deductively valid argument is included in the content of its premises, taken jointly, is a familiar one. It has important consequences ... Read More

Is Falsifiability a ‘Blunt Instrument’ for Modern Physics?

Manjari Chakrabarty

Volume 17, Issue 42 , June 2023, , Pages 298-316

https://doi.org/10.22034/jpiut.2023.16589

Abstract

Modern (theoretical) physics seems to be in deep crisis today as many of its core aspects are not empirically well-confirmed. Heated exchanges among physicists on the scientific status ... Read More

Personal or Impersonal Knowledge?

Susan Haack

Volume 13, Issue 28 , November 2019, , Pages 21-44

https://doi.org/10.22034/jpiut.2019.35720.2399

Abstract

Reflections on the contrast between the titles of Popper’s Objective Knowledge and Polanyi’s Personal Knowledge led Haack to explore how Polanyi’s ideas might be used ... Read More

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Keywords = Karl Popper

Karl Popper in Africa: Liberal-Communitarianism as Ideology for Democratic Social Reconstruction

Abstract

Popper in Greece

Abstract

Applying Critical Rationalism to Liberal Capitalism

Abstract

Logical Content and Its Malcontents

Abstract

Is Falsifiability a ‘Blunt Instrument’ for Modern Physics?

Abstract

Personal or Impersonal Knowledge?

Abstract