977-5935 (office) 977-1809 (fax)

• Wednesdays: 9.00am – 10.00am - SR6
• Thursdays: 9.00am – 10.00am - SR11

This course explores the genesis, evolution and character of the philosophy of plantation society during slavery and anti-slavery resistance in the Americas . It also examines the cultural and aesthetic foundations of Caribbean Civilization and the philosophical, cultural legacies of modern slavery in the 21th century.
It explores notions of freedom, justice and governance; examines ideas respecting the use of violence in political struggles; analyses sexual relations, aesthetics and their impact on philosophy, political action, identity and culture; looks at epistemology, and the philosophical foundations of "world" scholarship and modern western philosophy.

In this course the ideas in support of slavery and the subjection of Africans are examined as well as ideas against slavery and the subjection of Africans.

Among other things, the objects of this course are:

1. To demonstrate that the Caribbean along with other areas of the African diaspora in the Americas has its own dynamic political history from which political science theory can/must benefit immensely and key problems in philosophy which are not recognised in the mainstream as such are brought to the fore in the debate on the problems of political philosophy and consequently political praxis.
   
2. To show that the struggles of Blacks against slavery and colonialism were greatly engendered by a philosophy rooted in largely ignored African ancestral dispositions and anti-slavery thought rather than the mere replication of the Greek model posited by the various schools of philosophy emanating from Columbian Europe.
   
3. To establish the relevance and connectedness between pro-slavery thought and praxis and anti-slavery philosophy and praxis in the search for
   freedom, justice and independence in the 20th century.
   
4. To explore cultural identity issues.

Each student is required to write and submit to the lecturer a proposal for a research paper, which should be submitted to the lecturer on September 30, 2004 . The research paper must be written to specific academic standards and will constitute 40% of the grade of the course. A final written examination will constitute the remaining 60 percent of the course. No less than fifteen (15) references are to be used in the text of the researched paper. The paper must be typed, double-spaced and must contain in addition to a 12-page text, a title page and page(s) for references. Care must be exercised to ensure that the essay to be handed in is re-read and corrected. The pages of the essay must be numbered. The essay must be stapled at the upper left corner: don’t place in any folder. This essay is due November 4, 2005.