Philosophy by Hand or Mouth-to-Ear Philosophy? Philosophy in Oral Traditions

19 May 2026

Photo: Carolina Lehan/HEPMASITE

The HEPMASITE project would like to invite you to a lecture on Tuesday, 19 May 2026, at 17:15. Anke Graness (University of Hildesheim) will talk about "Philosophy by Hand or Mouth-to-Ear Philosophy? Philosophy in Oral Traditions."

Convenors

• Yoav Meyrav (University of Hamburg)
• Hanna Gentili (University of Hamburg)
• José Maksimczuk (University of Hamburg)

Abstract
Philosophy is commonly equated with written texts: for generations, philosophical ideas have filled library shelves and have been transmitted through close textual study. Indeed, the emergence of philosophy is often seen as dependent on the development of writing, with societies lacking writing systems historically denied the capacity for philosophical thought. This raises fundamental questions: Is engaging in philosophy necessarily tied to literacy? Can philosophical reflection develop and thrive where knowledge is conveyed through oral practices like storytelling or also through embodied practices?
The present lecture addresses these questions by discussing examples from Africa, Aotearoa/New Zealand, and Indigenous North American philosophies. It critically examines the Eurocentric history of philosophy and challenges contemporary, text-centered conceptions, opening space for alternative modes of philosophizing shaped by orality and lived experience.

Anke Graness is professor of philosophy at the University of Hildesheim and one of the directors of the DFG-funded Centre for Advanced Studies “Philosophizing in a Globalized World – Historical and Systematic Perspectives.” Her research interests include the history of philosophy, philosophy in Africa, intercultural philosophy, global justice, and feminist theory. Her recent publications include Philosophie in Afrika. Herausforderungen einer globalen Philosophiegeschichte (Suhrkamp 2023).

Venue 
in person and online
Institute for Jewish Studies

Further information
For registration and further information please write an e-mail to: hepmasite.reli@uni-hamburg.de

Invitation poster: PDF download