Maori Philosophy: Indigenous Thinking from Aotearoa

by Georgina Stewart, Monika Kirloskar-Steinbach (Editor), Leah Kalmanson (Editor), Nader El-Bizri (Editor), James Madaio (Editor)

Overview

Covering the symbolic systems and worldviews of the Indigenous peoples of Aotearoa, New Zealand, this book is a concise introduction to Maori philosophy. It addresses core philosophical issues including Maori notions of the self, the world, epistemology, the form in which Maori philosophy is conveyed, and whether or not Maori philosophy has a teleological agenda.

Introducing students to key texts, thinkers and themes, the book includes:

- A Maori-to-English glossary and an index
- Accessible interpretations of primary source material
- Teaching notes, and reflections on how the studied material engages with contemporary debates
- End-of-chapter discussion questions that can be used in teaching
- Comprehensive bibliographies and guided suggestions for further reading.

Maori Philosophy is an ideal text for students studying World Philosophies, or anyone who wishes to use Indigenous philosophies or methodologies in their own research and scholarship.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781350101654
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	09/03/2020
Series:	Bloomsbury Introductions to World Philosophies
Pages:	168
Product dimensions:	5.45(w) x 8.45(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Georgina Stewart is Associate Professor at Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand.

Monika Kirloskar-Steinbach is Professor of Philosophy at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Netherlands and the current Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of World Philosophies.

Leah Kalmanson is Associate Professor and Bhagwan Adinath Professor of Jain Studies in the Department of Philosophy and Religion at the University of North Texas, USA.

Nader El-Bizri is Professor of Civilization Studies & Philosophy at the American University of Beirut, Lebanon.

Dr. James Madaio is Head of the Department of South Asia at the Oriental Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences in Prague and a Research Fellow at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies. He is Editor of the Journal of Hindu Studies (Oxford University Press) and Regional Editor (Indic traditions) of Bloomsbury Academic's Introductions to World Philosophies book series. He was a postdoctoral fellow at New Europe College (Bucharest), an affiliated researcher at the Kuppuswami Sastri Research Institute (Chennai), and adjunct faculty at the Consciousness Studies programme at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (Bangalore). He was previously a lecturer at the University of Maryland (USA), University of Manchester (UK), and Charles University (Czech Republic).

Takeshi Morisato is a Visiting Research Fellow at the Department of Japanese Studies, KU Leuven, Belgium, and the editor of the European Journal of Japanese Philosophy (EJJP).

Pascah Mungwini is Professor of Philosophy in the Department of Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology at the University of South Africa, South Africa.

Ann A. Pang-White is Professor of Philosophy and Director of Asian Studies at The University of Scranton, USA. She is the editor of the Bloomsbury Research Handbook of Chinese Philosophy and Gender (2016), editor and translator of The Confucian Four Books for Women (2018), and the author of many articles on Chinese and comparative philosophy as well as ancient and medieval philosophy.

Mickaella Perina is Associate Professor of Philosophy at University of Massachusetts Boston, USA.

Omar Rivera is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Texas A&M University, USA.

Georgina Stewart is Associate Professor at Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand.

Table of Contents

List of figures viii

Series editors preface ix

1 Finding Maori philosophy 1

Defining Maori philosophy 2

Maori philosophy and World Philosophies: Writing this book 3

Sources and links to social and intellectual history 8

Te reo Maori: The Maori language in this book 12

The slippery path between imperialism and romanticism 15

Synopsis of chapters 19

Questions for discussion or research 20

2 Theoretical concepts for researching Maori philosophy 21

Weak relativism 22

Weak Sapir-Whorf theory 23

Worldview theory 23

Critical theory 24

The differend, incommensurability and epistemological diversity 24

Cultural hybridity third space and liminality 25

Kaupapa Maori theory 26

Questions for discussion or research 27

3 Still being Maori 29

Maori ideas about the 'self' 29

Maori origin stories 34

Maori ethnicity 36

Cultural difference in the contemporary world-system 42

Being the 'other': A politicised self, a mythologised self 44

Fractions of Maoriness - family skeletons 49

Questions for discussion or research 54

4 Te ao Maori - the Maori world 55

Maori ideas about 'the world' 55

The geneaological Maori universe 58

The dipolar Maori cosmos 61

Contemporary Maori reality 64

Living in two worlds 68

Biculturalism and the hyphen 73

Questions for discussion or research 77

5 Maori knowledge 79

Maori ideas about knowledge 80

The baskets of knowledge - nga kete o te wananga 83

Central concepts in Maori philosophy 84

Central Maori concepts and values 85

Whakapapa 85

Mana, tapu 89

Mauri, hau 90

Utu 91

Whanaungatanga 91

Manaaki, manaakitanga 92

Aroha 92

Some Maori knowledge terms and concepts 93

Matauranga, mohiotanga 93

Wananga, kura 94

Tohunga, pukenga 94

Aro/whakaaro, hua/whakahua, mahara/whakamahara 95

Ako/whakaako, marama/whakamarama 95

Aria, huatau, tautake 96

Maori philosophy and Western knowledge 97

Questions for discussion or research 98

6 Writing with Maori philosophy 99

Powhiri in education and academia in Aotearoa New Zealand 100

The controversy over Washday at the Pa 110

Telling truth and stories 122

Come and get it! 122

Get a real job 122

The way of the red mist 123

Questions for discussion or research 129

7 Making philosophy Maori 131

Te kohatu o te wananga - philosophy's stone 131

Notes 133

Glossary 134

Study guide material 136

References 146

Index 156

Editorial Reviews

A significant, groundbreaking and fascinating book that examines Maori philosophy in a meaningful and contemporary way. It will become a core text for the many courses that draw on Indigenous knowledge and Matauranga Maori, educating and challenging the way we think.” —Linda Tuhiwai Smith, Professor of Maori and Indigenous Studies, Waikato University, New Zealand

“In this book, 'native' philosopher Georgina Stewart traverses the breadth and depth of Maori ways of thinking and making sense of the world. The relationship between traditional and historical Maori philosophical notions and contemporary Maori philosophical thought is examined such that both discord and harmony are embraced.” —Hemi Dale, Director Maori Medium Education, University of Auckland, New Zealand

“This book is an anthropology of Maori philosophy, a journey following Maori thought and metaphysics as it wrestles with the dictates of coloniality/modernity. A much-needed introduction to Maori thought, Stewart invites the reader to be more than a spectator but a participant in that fascinating journey.” —Garrick Cooper, Senior Lecturer, Aotahi School of Maori and Indigenous Studies, University of Canterbury, New Zealand

“In a beautifully written, at times painful, examination of living bi-culturally in 'two worlds,' Georgina Stewart ties together ancient Maori ways of knowing and te ao hurihuri; contemporary concerns in the modern world. She unpacks the tension of “fractionated” bloodlines, the postmodern dissonance of cultural performativity, and what it means to be authentic in fast changing times.” —Ruth Irwin, Adjunct Professor, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia

“For many people like me who are seeking to better understand the ways of thinking, doing and being of our Maori forebears and contemporaries, this book is a generous offering ... [Stewart's] writing should open doors to guide readers in their own learning, to work with respect for Maori philosophy and to build confidence in their working the intercultural spaces.” —New Zealand Journal of Educational Studies

From the Publisher