Under Construction @ Keele 2018 Vol. IV (II) | Page 9

1
Ethnophilosophy: A Suggestion for Broadening the Concept
Nicholas Sheldon
(PhD in Philosophy, Keele University)
The context of ‘idealist’ philosophy, 'idealism' has a technical meaning, referring to a world-
view in which the fundamental 'stuff' of the universe is not material atoms and subatomic
particles independently existing in spacetime, but spiritual entities, such as souls and love.
Ethnophilosophy, like ethnomathematics, has until now been as the study of systems of
thought in non-western cultures. This paper argue that ethnophilosophy should be broadened
as a discipline to include philosophical systems from any marginalised group. Many women
over the last millennium have created beautiful and detailed systems of idealist philosophy,
yet, due to the patriarchal hegemony of then and now, have not been regarded as
philosophers. One such woman, Mary Baker Eddy, is the focus of this paper, in which I will
outline the complex, idealist philosophy she originated and used as the basis for the religion
she created, known as Christian Science. Although well known in the USA, she is rather less
read in the UK, and not viewed as a philosopher in either country. Mary Baker Eddy is just one
example of many equally-gifted individuals whose work needs to be reappraised, but my point
is a still greater one: true philosophy can occur where and when it is least expected, but, for
the sake of justice, must always be acknowledged.
Keywords: Ethnophilosophy, Idealist philosophy, Christian Science, Euryphilosophy
Introduction
This paper seeks to redress an historic injustice regarding a socially marginalised group of
thinkers whose work, despite its often-startling originality and ingenious subtlety, has not even
been categorised as true philosophy and whose members have not been granted the status
of being philosophers. Before introducing an outstanding example of this form, a short
summary is required regarding the recent increase in interest in the recognition of atypical
work.