La problématique du développement de l’Afrique par le rationalisme une solution épistémique dans “l’engagement rationaliste” de Gaston Bachelard

Abstract

By subjecting philosophy to the judgment of bachelardian rationalism, we intend to redefine development on the basis of the thesis that Bachelard holds from Brunschvicg according to which "rationalism, far from being an attitude of the human mind identical to itself throughout history, is a thing evolving, exactly that which varies, and above all will vary, with experience." This is a criticism of the traditional and dogmatic rationalism still taught in Africa which prevents, not only, the blossoming of modern and relative rationalism, committed to the tasks aiming at transforming nature, society and man, etc., but also, the development of rigorous reason, by slowing down all the possible contours that cannot allow its development. One of the reasons that could explain the delay of Africa or help it to get out of the environment of superstitions, beliefs, dead traditions, would be "the famous trial against the 'stiff' reason". For Bachelard, the traditional rationalism is similar to "a kind of scientific superstition" which rests on the successes of immutable knowledge, of contents of the theories less scientific and rationally less engaged. From there, derives his invitation to "a commitment for the reason, against this form of rationalism, (...), blissful expression of a first success of rationalism. It is so true that the rationalism of Bachelard is the contestation of an effleurissant rationalism that invents a term to distinguish it from the surrationalism. That it appeals to the aggressiveness of the reason systematically directed against itself." Keywords: