Abstract
In this paper, I employ an under-explored sub-Saharan
African notion of ‘relationship’ to formulate a method that
could ground discourses in African and intercultural philosophies.
I claim that conversationalism, as the method is
called, which is a new idea in African philosophy, might
be an attractive model for thought if we take seriously the
demand for equal and horizontal engagement especially
in the field of intercultural philosophy. To do this, I will
show what the method of conversationalism might
look like in application. I will articulate a principle called
Context-dependence of Value (CdV) that attempts to shift
the paradigm of the truth of our propositions from the
‘facts’ which such ‘propositions’ assert to the ‘context’
in which those propositions are asserted, to show not
only what makes conversationalism new but to also
provide strong arguments on what makes it ultimately
desirable for intercultural discourse and particularly now
that some thinkers are calling for the decolonisation and
Africanisation of philosophy.