+ All Categories
Home > Documents > 【Kwame Nkrumah】Consciencism

【Kwame Nkrumah】Consciencism

Date post: 04-Jun-2018
Category:
Upload: alainzhu
View: 241 times
Download: 1 times
Share this document with a friend

of 65

Transcript
  • 8/13/2019 Kwame Nkrumah Consciencism

    1/65

  • 8/13/2019 Kwame Nkrumah Consciencism

    2/65

    pa) -+ pa na there is always a dialectical

    0moment such that

    (iv) d(na>pa)g -+ (pa>na)gThis in its general form is

    (v) (pa)(na)(g):J d [d(na>pa)g -+ (pa>to give us an existence theorem. But, equally, the followingobtain:

    )1(vi) D(pa>tta -+ tW pa 0

    I I IIO CONSCIENCISMHence there is always a dialectical moment such that

    SET THEORETIC TERMScol g na> pa)g (i)

  • 8/13/2019 Kwame Nkrumah Consciencism

    59/65

    (vii) d pa>na)g -7- na>pa)gThis in turn can be universalized as

    (viii) pa) na) g):3 d[d pa>na)g -7- na>pa)g]That is, in any territory, liberation can be won (v) or lost (viii).This is why every liberated territory must keep on increasing itspositive action ifit would remain liberated. n particular, in orderto thwart neo-colonialism, positive action requires to be maintained in preponderance over negative action.

    By successive instantiation, we obtain the following deductions:pa) na) g) : d[d na> pa)g -7- pa>na)g]

    na) g):3 d [d na> pa)g -7- pa> na)g]g)3 d [d na> pa)g -7- pa>na)g]

    : d [d na> pa)g -7 - pa>na)g]t will be observed from the formula (iii) according to which

    7D{na> pa) -7- pa na that the decrease of negative action~

    secured by introducing a dialectical moment into na> pa)approaches zero. But not even in the limit does na quite attain to

    ~zero, for according to philosophical consciencism every situation isa plenum of forces in tension. Hence, negative action cannot dis-appear completely but could only become a negligible quantity.I therefore put down as

    7(ix) LmD na>pa) -7-pa + fnaThe above formulae are subject to a rule ofsubstitution, which

    enables us to substitute constants on variables, and a rule ofdetachment which enables us, granted an antecedent, to assert a consequence. Thus, if b is the name of a colony, we can obtain thefollowing derivation;

    col b+---+ na> pa)b rule of substitutionBy this rule, the general condition for a colony is applied to

    every individual colony.Again, we may obtain the following derivation:pa) na) g) :3 d[d na>pa)g -7- pa>na)g] ... a

    pa) na) : d [d na> pa)g -7- pa> na)g] ... b: d[d na> pa)g -7- pa> tla)g] ... c:3 d[d na>pa)g -7- pa>na)g] ... d

    d na>pa)g -7- pa>na)g ed na>pa)g ... f

    pa> na) rule of detachment . . g.This derivation, according to rules analogous to those of the

    predicate calculus, shows that ifa freedom fighter can by increasingpositive action introduce a sufficient dialectical moment inna> pa)g, he can be sure of winning independence.Alternatively,pa) na) g) : d [d na>pa)g -7- pa> na)g] (a)

    lib.g +---+ D na>pa)g -7- pa>na)g .. (ii). (b).'. [D na> pa)g -7- pa> na)g] lib.g . . . . .. (c)7

    from (ii), (iii), (iv) , (c)[d na>pa)g -7- pa>na)g] -7-lib.g . (d)but from (a) na) g):3d[d na>pa)g -7- pa>na)g] (e)" , , (e) g):3 d [d na>pa)g-7- pa>na)g] (f)

    , , f ) : d [d na>pa)g-7- pa>na)g] (g)" " (g) d na>pa)g -7- pa>na)gfrom (d) and (h) lib.g.

    But independence does not automatically bring that unity ofpurpose required for maintain.ing it. Indeed, a reaction couldquickly set in, for just as a liberated territory can be produced bythe application of D na> pa), so a neo-colonized terr itory can beproduced by the application of D pa> na). Further and sustainedpositive action is required to consolidate independence, and to raise

  • 8/13/2019 Kwame Nkrumah Consciencism

    60/65

    lI CONSCIENCISMI have argued that the condition for optimum development

    lISSET THEORETIC TERMSBut the formula at the same time gives a due to the form it

  • 8/13/2019 Kwame Nkrumah Consciencism

    61/65

    which shall be humanist is socialist through and through. If wemake S represent socialism, then we can obtain an analytic formulaas follows:

    xv) S > VGiThis short formula summarizes a number of weighty truths,namely, that there is socialism if and only if there is the conjointpresence of philosophical materialism, philosophical consciencism,

    dialectic and national unity, in a liberated territory. It is essentialthat socialism should include overriding regard to the experienceand consciousness of a people, for if it does not do so, it willserving an idea and not a people. It will generate a contradiction.It will become dogmatic. It will shed its materialist and realistbasis. It will become a fanaticism, an obscurantism, an alienator ofhuman happiness..When we talk of socialism in Africa, therefore, we really dointend to include as part of socialism an overriding regard to ouractual material conditions, an overriding regard to our experienceand our consciousness.Appropriately therefore a general formula arises thus:

    xvi) ~ m C D VGiHere, m is a constant, for the theses of philosophical materialismare constant. C, however, stands for philosophical consciencism ingeneral and not for the actual content which it should have in aterritory g if it is to pay attention to the material conditions of theterritory, and the experience and consciousness of its people. D,too, stands for a dialectical moment in general, but the actual formand content of this moment depends on the situation which it seeksto change, and the resources which, in a particular case, it has forbringing about the desirable change. D is therefore a variable.VGi because it is a ftmction of d pa and na is also a variable,because dependent. It is the variable nature of the parameters offormula (xv) which determines its generality.

    should take n any particular territory, g The following formularesults:

    xvii) Sg m cg d V lib.gand for an optimum zone oc, it has the form:

    (xviii) Soc - - ; 0 m c oc d V lib oIf bbe the name of a particular territory, then we obtain

    (xix) Sb m b d V lib.b.Hence, in order that socialism should be applicable in a country,the country must be liberated; it must enjoy unity; it must embracephilosophical materialism; it must have a specific philosophicalconscicl1cism holding its general nature in common, but expressingits individuality through the actual material conditions of theterritory for which it is formulated, and th rough the experienceand consciousness of the people of that territory; it must applysuitable and adequate dialectical moments, expressed throughpositive action,wielded through a mass party.

    n orde r to liberate a territory, an increaseofpositive action overnegative action must be obtainedby the introductionofa dialecticalmoment. This dialectical moment can be introduced by joiningtogether the forces of positive action in one mass political party,educating the people, explaining to them the evil nature ofcolonialism, that is, analysing their experience and giving them agreater awareness of this experience through workers sections,farmers sections, youth sections, women s sections, newspapersand other implements ofparty organization. To unite the liberatedterritory, the mass political party must be further developed to thesize of a popular movement. The policies of development thenneed to accord with the theses of philosophical materialism, andthey must be subject to philosophical consciencism, showing asensitivity to the material conditions and experienceof the people.The analytic form of xvi) - xix) reveals that socialism cannot

    II CONSCIENCISMbe dogmatic in its specific provisions, for it contains constant and

    SET THEORETIC TERMS II7liberated territory involve a relation of positive action to negative

  • 8/13/2019 Kwame Nkrumah Consciencism

    62/65

    variable elements. In principle, socialism remains the same andpure; in application it is realistic and scientific.Caution is supremely necessary here. A clever and unscrupulousneo-colonialism can pervert and corrupt this relativist aspect ofspecific socialism and use it in fact to re-colonize a people. t is

    essential that socialism in its specific form should at every pointand every level be justified only by reference to socialist generalprinciples. Specific socialism can only be an instantiation of thegeneral formula, no more. people should therefore not bebetrayed under the guise of relating socialism to their actualconditions.At tIus point, I shall give further elucidation to the concept ofpositive action. I have already pointed out that positive action as alever towards independence is related to a mass party and thepolitical education, unity of purpose and action which it can

    to a people. Positive action as a quantity could thereforevary with people, their degree of consciousness, and their degreeofmobilization for progress. The people are however not consciousor mobilized apart from the consciousness and mobilization ofindividuals. pa may therefore be said to be the sum of the positiveaction, Pa, contained in individuals associated with a mass organization. Therefore,

    xx) pa = Pal Pa 2 ... Pa k Pak = EPa kI 1Similarly, na represents the sum of the negative action, Na, ofthe individuals in a society to the extent that it is organized andconcerted. Hence,xxi) na = Na l Na2 ... Na k I Nak E .. . k

    Thus, both pa and na are revealed as functions.Since all the steps taken towards a genuine development of a

    action, the index of development,p may be defmed thus:xxii) P naAs nanever completely disappears, however closelyit approaches

    0 p can never become infinite, but at its peak has the followingequivalence:

    P ttaP is therefore asymptotic towards infmity at its peak. t is increasedby increasing pa and decreasing na. n practice, however, na is nevernegligible and t na is never attained.But though t tta is never achieved, the index of developmentcan rise as pa rises and na decreases. If this is what is required according to the equation for the index of development, then it can be

    ,;r. secured by the same leverage as brings about pa + na). The intensi~

    fication of the dialectical moment which produces independencewill raise the index of development. A greater positive actiontherefore as the key to development along socialist lines.That is, socialist development, the socialist conscience of thepeople must enhanced through education and party activity.The forces positive action, political, economic and cultural,need to be mobilized and streamlined for progress.requires an increase in the number of people contributingto positive action and an improvement in the quality of their contribution. This requires a greater space ex, achieved throughpositive unity as defined in formula xiii), and it creates an optimumzone ofself-induced development.I should like at this point to revert to a general feature of philosophical consciencism. Philosophical consciencism is a general

    II8 SET THEORETIC TERMSphilosophy which admits of application to any country. But it is

  • 8/13/2019 Kwame Nkrumah Consciencism

    63/65

    especially applicable to colonies and newly independent anddeveloping countries. In the case of Africa, by means of the foregoing set theoretic methods the necessity of a unio}1 ofindependentAfrican states is established, a union integrated by socialism,without which our hard-won independence may yet be pervertedand negated by a new colonialism.

    INDEXAddition, method of, 14African 12; history andculture 62-3; segments

    68, 78; classlessness of, 69; andcapitalism, 74, experienceand influence of Western European, Christian and Islamicthought on, 70, 78-9; outlookand standpoint of, 97-8; andsocialism, 4Alexander the Great, 48Amo, Anthony William (Africanphilosopher), 18, 87Anarchism, 39, 44Anaxagoras (Greek pl,i1osopher). 38-9Anaximander (Greek philosopher),

    21,35-6Apperception, 20, 84-5: see alsoPerceptionAristotle (Greek philosopher), 44-9,

    50,84-5Art, African and European, 65Atheism, 9, 84Augustine, St, 12, 44Axioms, 25Berkeley. George (British philosopher), 6, IS, 19. 5I-2'Boundless' (Anaximander's meory).

    2IBritain, 65Capitalism, 14, 49-50 passim, 57. 725; evils of. 76-7Cartesianism: see Descartes, Rene, andCartesianismCategories and categorial conversion,

    Causality. 7-II passimChange, chemical and physical, 2ICharlemagne (King of he Franks andEmperor), 43Christianity and the Christian church,II,46-7,50,5 2,53.68;influenceon African society, 70, 79Civitas dei (St Augustine), 44Clan system, 69Class systems and structure, 69;Marxist conception of, 98

    me, 29, 36-oprrl ,nn 60-2 passim, 65

    Cohesion, 65,68Colonialism,need for abolition of, 69-70,ro6; meories of Marx andon, 5: see also Neo-colonialislUColonies, types of, ro8-9Commwlalism, 69. 73-4Concepts and objects. 23,38-9'Consciencism', philosophy of, 70,ffConsciousness and self-consciousness,

    20. 84-0 passimConstructionism, 2I-4 passimConservatism. 75Containment in colonialist cOLUltries.

    101Convention People's Party (Ghana).100Cyclic meory of time, 9-10

    Decolonization, 12, 13De Humanae Mentis Apatheia (A. W.

    120 INDEXDelinquency, God, concepts of, 9-12 passim, 15, 16,

    INDEX 2Individualism, 44, 49-50 20 7 passim; inertia of, 80-4;

  • 8/13/2019 Kwame Nkrumah Consciencism

    64/65

    methods of dealing with, 65-6; 17, 19psychology of, 95 Gods, in Thales' philosophy, 83Democracy, Greek, 30, 39, 41-3, 44 Goya y Lucientes, Francisco (SpanishDescartes, Rene (French philosopher), painter), 65and Cartesianism, 16, 17 52, 53, Gravity, theory of, 8185,86,87 Greek society and democracy, 30-3,Destiny, in theological speculation, 29 37-44 passimDevelopment of liberated territories,12, II6-7 Happiness, defmition of, 76Disincarnation, 16 Heat, 24Dreams, 17 Hegel, Georg (German philosopher),Duality, Cartesian, 85 48, 62Heraclitus (Greek philosopher), 36-8,

    43Education, 41, 55, 70, 100, II5 Herodotus (Greek historian), 63Egalitarianism, 35-41 passim, 45-6, 49; History, 62materialism and, 75, 95-7; need Hitler, Adolf, 48for restitution of, 78; and ethics, Hobbes, Thomas {English93-8 passim; and consciencism, sopher),17II3 , Huet, Pierre (French scholar), 54Einstein, Albert (German mathema Human Understal1ding, cOl1cemil1gtician), 88: see also Relativity, (John Locke), 81Theory of Hum:mism, 50-1Empiricism, 14,30, 51-2 David (Scottish philosopher),Energy and matter, 20-4 passim, 89 14,67,96Engels, Friedrich (German philosopher), 5, 34,92 Idealism, 14, IS, 19-21, 38, 43; andEpistemology, 90-1 oligarchy, 75-6; and AfricanEthics, 66; ethical rules, 94--'7 society, 76; compared withEugenics, Plato's theory of, 41 materialism, 93: see also Material-Evolution, 25-6; fundamental law of, 15111I03-4 Ideals and institutions, relationship

    Existence, 9, 17 between, 94Extension, 19 Identity of Meaning, Principle of, 7980Feudalism, 71-3 Ideologies, 34, 56 passim; in AfricanForce, 89-90 society, 68Forces, opposition of, 37 Illusions and delusions, 17'Forms' (of Plato), 46 Independence for colonialist Ull tries,Foucher, Simon (French philosopher), 101-1I8 passim

    54 Individual, the, 16, 49, 52, 58; idealistGottlob (German logician and materialist tendencies in, 75;and mathematician), 23, 80 and happiness, 76; as a means andFreud, SigmUlld (Austrian psycholo an end, 97; principle of initial58 98

    Induction, 15 manifestations and unity of, 96-7 ;Inertia of matter, 80-4 passim African standpoint on, 97Infinity, 9- Mazzini, Ginseppe (Italian politicalInstability, 37 writer), 56Intention, 82 Metaphysics, 23ff, 47'Intoxicated speculation' (Marxian John Stuart (British

    term),19 sopher),49Islam, influence of, on African society, Mind, philosophical concepts of, 19,68,70,7 8-9 20, 23; and matter, 20-7 passimMind-body problem, 19, 86-7

    Jesuits, 53 Monads (of Leibniz), 52principle of, 35-6 Monisms,2IMonists, 21,35,36,38,39,75,96Kant, Immanuel (German Montaigne, Michel (French writer), 54sopher), 30, 47, 95, 97 Moralities, 58-9Kinds, evolution of, 25-6 Morality, 66-7Knowledge, 40, 51; necessary to Motion, principle of, 38,47, 80-4social development, I04

    Nature,LangQage, 19 concepts of, 3off; and society, 70-1 ;Law,61; in theological speculation, 29 effect of man's conquest of forces"Leibniz, Gottfried (German philo of,94sopher), IS, 30, 52, 80 Neo-colonialism, 100-5 passim, IIO-12Libertins (French free-thinkers), 53 passim, 6: see also Colonial.Locke, John (British philosopher), 50, ism81 Newton, Sir Isaac (British scientist),Logic, 21; logical grammar, 23; 80, 81, 83logical types, 90 Nominalism, 22-5 passimLuther, Martin, 64 Nous (Anaxagoras' term), 38Numbers, critical, 24, 26Mach, Ernst (German mathematician),

    88Objects,Malebranche, Nicolas (Frencll writer), types of, 6; and concepts, 23, 38-954 Occam, William of (English philo-Marx, Karl, and Marxism, 5, 13, 19, sopher), 85-634,69,74,90,92 Occultism, 82Mass (in physics), 20, 23, 25, 89 Oligarchy and idealism, 75-6Materialism, 14, 20, 23-8 passim, 38; Original sin, 68and egalitarianism, 75-7; as basis Otto I (Holy Roman Emperor), 43of consciencism, 79 passim;compared with idealism, 92-3;and ethics, 93 Pantheism, 9, 84Mathematics, 24, 26 Papacy, the, 43Matter, 18-21, 79-88 passim; and Parallelism, 87

    54

    122 IN EXPerception, IS-IS passim, 27: see also

    ApperceptionSociety,concepts of, 36 ff 56 jJ; idealist

  • 8/13/2019 Kwame Nkrumah Consciencism

    65/65

    Philosophical alternatives, 75Philosophy,

    history of, 5-28; role of, 66--7Place, 47Plato (Greek philosopher) and Platon

    40 6 passim, 66, 80, 84plotinus (Greek philosopher), 42Positive and negative action againstcolonialism, 100-5; theoreticterms for, 107-18Practice: see Thought and practice

    Priests, power of, 31-3,43-4Progress, 75Prolegomena, 47Protagoras (Greek philosopher), 39Quality and 20, 26, 47, 87QuantumRabelais, Fran


Recommended