Placide Tempels
Encyclopedia
Placide Frans Tempels was a Belgian
missionary
who became famous for his book Bantu Philosophy
.
, Belgium. Born Frans Tempels, he took the name "Placide" on his entry into a Franciscan
seminary
in 1924. After his ordination to the presthood in 1930 he taught for a short time in Belgium before being posted to the Belgian Congo
(now the Democratic Republic of the Congo
) in 1933. He stayed there for twenty-nine years, broken by only two short stays back in Belgium. In April 1962 he returned to live in a Franciscan monastery
in Berlaar, where he died in 1977.
n nor a philosopher, Tempels had a huge influence on African philosophy
through the publication in 1945 of his book La philosophie bantoue (published in English
translation in 1959) as Bantu Philosophy).
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
who became famous for his book Bantu Philosophy
Bantu Philosophy
Bantu Philosophy is a 1945 book written by Placide Tempels which argues that the people of Sub-Saharan Africa have a distinctive philosophy, and attempts to describe the underpinnings of that philosophy.In his book, Tempels argues that the African philosophical...
.
Life
Tempels was born in BerlaarBerlaar
Berlaar is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the towns of Berlaar proper and Gestel . On January 1, 2006 Berlaar had a total population of 10,612. The total area is 24.57 km² which gives a population density of 432 inhabitants per km².-History:The...
, Belgium. Born Frans Tempels, he took the name "Placide" on his entry into a Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
in 1924. After his ordination to the presthood in 1930 he taught for a short time in Belgium before being posted to the Belgian Congo
Belgian Congo
The Belgian Congo was the formal title of present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo between King Leopold II's formal relinquishment of his personal control over the state to Belgium on 15 November 1908, and Congolese independence on 30 June 1960.-Congo Free State, 1884–1908:Until the latter...
(now the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
) in 1933. He stayed there for twenty-nine years, broken by only two short stays back in Belgium. In April 1962 he returned to live in a Franciscan monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
in Berlaar, where he died in 1977.
Bantu Philosophy
Though neither AfricaAfrica
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n nor a philosopher, Tempels had a huge influence on African philosophy
African philosophy
African philosophy is used in different ways by different philosophers. Although African philosophers spend their time doing work in many different areas, such as metaphysics, epistemology, moral philosophy, and political philosophy, a great deal of the literature is taken up with a debate...
through the publication in 1945 of his book La philosophie bantoue (published in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
translation in 1959) as Bantu Philosophy).
External links
- Placide Tempels — Website in French (with option of English navigation); includes the full text of Bantu Philosophy, plus on-line critical readings