African Philosophers of Science and History in the 19th Century : The Struggle for Progress

The first comprehensive study of how two influential 19th-century African philosophers—Rifa''a al-Tahtawi and James Africanus Beale Horton—shaped major debates on modernity.

This book shows the extent that African philosophers engaged seriously and approvingly with questions of scientific modernity. Zeyad el Nabolsy rejects the label of “mental colonization” and presents a comparative study of the views its two central figures on progress, history, scientific method, and race. We see how Horton and Tahtawi actively used modern science to rethink history, challenge racialist anthropology, and envision modern futures for West Africa and Egypt.

El Nabolsy explains why it is a mistake to frame the study of the history of African philosophy as primarily aimed at the study of a fundamentally different philosophical orientation. He argues both Tahtawi and Horton had good reasons for holding views such as the universal validity of modern scientific knowledge. He shows us why they believed the possibility of a truly universal philosophy of history centred on the belief in progress, severed from its historical association with colonialism and racism.

This expansive and inclusive understanding of philosophical history is critical for a more accurate understanding of African philosophical reasoning. By showing how to integrate North African philosophy into our histories of philosophy, el Nabolsy helps illuminate contemporary debates around race, literacy, and religion.