This article introduces the phased achievements of the National Social Science Fund's major project "Research and Translation of African Philosophy from the Perspective of Cross Cultural Philosophy", emphasizes the importance of the term "argumentation" in African philosophy research, and reflects Hong Tongji's active participation and in-depth analysis of the debate in African philosophy.

1 Introduction

The African continent was once subjected to European colonial rule and religious infiltration, lacking ideological subjectivity. After the independence of African countries in the 1960s, they began to explore decolonization. The African intellectual community criticized the old knowledge system and pursued an independent knowledge system. Hong Tongji is a representative figure in building an independent knowledge system in Africa. He studied Western philosophy in France, participated in philosophical debates in Africa, and held a government position during the transition period of democratization in Benin. This article will examine Hong Tongji's contributions in analyzing philosophical debates in Africa, constructing endogenous knowledge, and cultivating political culture from the perspective of contemporary African intellectual history. It will evaluate his unique contributions from a local perspective, in order to enrich the academic accumulation of research on African philosophy and political development, and promote cultural exchanges and mutual learning between China and Africa.

A lifetime of striving for meaning

Hong Tongji, born in C ô te d'Ivoire in 1942, was the first African student to study at the É cole Normale Sup é rieure in Paris, France, under the guidance of several French philosophers. After graduating in 1966, he pursued further studies at the University of Nanterre in Paris and completed his doctoral thesis in 1970. After briefly teaching in France, Hong Tongji went to teach in the Democratic Republic of Congo and later returned to teach at the National University of Benin. In 1977, he published "On 'African Philosophy': A Critique of Racial Philosophy", criticizing the racial philosophical tendencies of African philosophy. In the 1990s, Hong Tongji served as the Minister of Education and Minister of Culture of Benin. Resigned from public office in 1994 and returned to academia. In 1997, he published his autobiography "Striving for Meaning: An African Trajectory". Hong Tongji is also the chief editor of academic works and has published numerous philosophical and political articles. He is an important member of the African Council for the Development of Social Sciences. He passed away in 2024 and was hailed by the academic community as one of the greatest contemporary African philosophers. His book "On African Philosophy" won the Hercovitz Prize and was named one of the "100 African Classics of the 20th Century". Hong Tongji's ideas have been systematically studied in the fields of English and French. This article aims to comprehensively present Hong Tongji's efforts to promote African independence and self-improvement in philosophical debates, academic research, and practical politics.

3 Debate on African Philosophy

Discussed the origin and development of African philosophy, particularly the influence of Belgian missionary Don Puel's "Bantu Philosophy" on African philosophy. Through ethnographic research, Tang Pu Er systematically affirmed the existence of African philosophy for the first time, challenging the Western bias towards Africa's primitive thinking. His work inspired the academic atmosphere in Africa before and after independence, and a group of African scholars with Christian backgrounds began to explore the connection between African indigenous culture and Christianity. However, in the 1970s, philosophers such as Hong Tongji began to criticize this "racial philosophy" based on ethnographic materials, believing that it could not be considered a true philosophy. Hong Tongji emphasized that African philosophy should be based on individual rational thinking, and opposed simplifying African philosophy into a collective worldview or using it to cater to Western intellectual curiosity. He advocates that African philosophers should address universal philosophical issues, not just those specific to Africa.

Building endogenous knowledge beneficial to African development

Since the late 1980s, Hong Tongji has been focusing on the relationship between knowledge output and social power in Africa, exploring the issues of establishing autonomous knowledge systems in Africa. He was inspired by Samir Amin's "attachment theory" and proposed "de marginalization" to advocate for the independence and autonomy of knowledge production in African countries. Hong Tongji pointed out that the marginal position of knowledge production in African countries is similar to the outward oriented single industry structure of African countries in the global economic system, both highly dependent on former colonial powers. He emphasized the urgent need for Africans to reverse this situation and called for intellectual independence and an end to extraversion. Hong Tongji proposed that Africans need to respond calmly and not overly fall into accusations against the outside world. He advocates revitalizing traditional African culture with an attitude of "endogenous knowledge", critically possessing and absorbing past heritage and global technological innovation processes, and reusing the creativity and adaptability of predecessors. In the era of globalization, Africans should master and absorb the manufacturing processes behind imported products, connect this knowledge with ongoing scientific and technological research, and subject them to scientific and technological testing, verification, and authenticity, constantly generating new endogenous knowledge that is up-to-date and applicable to the present.

5. Cultivate African political culture

As a contemporary African philosopher, Hong Tongji's political thought is closely linked to philosophical reflection, and he has profound insights into African political history. He witnessed the political exploration of the two major ideological camps in Africa, and held a critical attitude towards the military regimes of Mobutu and Kreku, believing that these regimes claimed to be political saviors, but in fact concealed the tendency towards unification in political practice. Hong Tongji emphasized the transformation of endogenous political culture in the transformation of African countries and opposed attributing democratization to external factors. He focuses on the democratic transformation of Benin, believing that internal factors play a decisive role, while also valuing the role of key individuals in political change. Hong Tongji emphasized the importance of cultivating a political culture among citizens, emphasizing that while citizens defend their individual and collective rights, they also bear the obligations and behavioral consequences based on common production activities and interests. In his later years, he paid attention to the rise of religious power in the global geopolitical landscape, adhered to humanistic ethics, advocated transcending religious differences, returning to the common nature of human beings, and seeking the universality of global ethics.

6 evaluations and inspirations

Hong Tongji's adherence to Africa, criticism of racial philosophy, and promotion of self reflection in African philosophy are regarded as milestones in the development of African philosophy. His criticism prompted the distinction between African philosophy and anthropological works, becoming a manifestation of researchers' pursuit of normativity. Hong Tongji calls for the "de marginalization" of African academia and advocates for endogenous knowledge to be rooted in Africa for its benefit. He has a profound analysis of African political development and envisions African political culture in the context of globalization. However, his criticism of racial philosophy also has the problem of overcorrection, downplaying the uniqueness of African culture. Hong Tongji's ideas inspire us to pay attention to the subjectivity analysis of African thought in philosophical research; At the level of political research, it is necessary to conduct in-depth studies on the characteristics of political development in Africa after independence; At the level of cultural exchange between China and Africa, dialogue should be conducted on building an independent knowledge system. Hong Tongji's contribution provides valuable reference for the exchange of experience in the modernization process between China and Africa.