THE HOBBESIAN STATE OF NATURE AND THE NIGERIAN SITUATION: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS ABSTRACT Looking at the Nigerian state one would see that it harbours a variety of elements present the Hobbesian state of nature where there is perpetual fear and strife, no laws, no authority, no sense of justice or injustice and no sense of …
THE EPISTEMOLOGY OF PLATO’S CONCEPTION OF IDEAL STATE ABSTRACT Plato introduced his ideal state to salvage bad governance that could spring up from bad leaders. He classified the citizens of his Republic into three categories; Guardian (Rulers), Auxiliaries (Military) and the Artisans (Farmers). He apportioned duties for each of the three classes and conditions that …
SOCIAL JUSTICE IN JOHN RAWLS AND THE CONDITION OF THE POOR IN THE CAPITALIST SOCIETY: A CRITICAL EVALUATION ABSTRACT This thesis is designed to make a critical evaluation of John Rawls’ approach to social justice (distributive Justice), especially as he in his books, A Theory of Justice, that there is inequality in the society and …
PHILOSOPHICAL EVALUATION OF WALTER RODNEY’S CONCEPT OF DEVELOPMENT ABSTRACT The concept of Development falls under the Anthropological part of Philosophy, but in recent times, it is attracting scholarly discussions which demands Philosophical evaluation. Taking into consideration, the attributes of development which includes: ontological, cultural, social and psychological integration, many scholars from different fields of study …
KANT’S CRITICISM OF METAPHYSICS: REVIEW OF ITS IMPLICATION FOR METAPHYSICS IN IGBO THOUGHT. ABSTRACT Metaphysics can be defined as that branch of philosophy that studies reality in its most comprehensive scope and fundamental principles. It is the science that tries to determine the real nature of things. The thesis is an attempt to examine critically …
EARTH DEITY (“ANI”) AND MORALITY IN IGBO WORLD-VIEW: A CASE STUDY OF IGBO ETHICS. ABSTRACT Could it be possible that there are people who have no sense of morality or of a ‘lower grade of moral consciousnesses?’ And to be specific, could there be anything like morality in Igbo traditionalism? If there is, in which …
ARISTOTELIAN CONCEPT OF GOOD GOVERNMENT ABSTRACT Albert Einstein, in a letter to a Rumanian friend Maurice Solvine from Princeton U.S.A. on April 10, 1938, says: “A fashion rule each age, without most people being able to see the tyrants that rule them” Although man as Aristotle opines is a political animal who desires and longs …
A.J. AYER AND THE ELIMINATION OF METAPHYSICS ABSTRACT A.J Ayer a logical positivist and indeed at all his fellow logical positivists were moved by the achievements and clarities in science and as it were, they moved to bring these achievements and clarities in science into philosophy. They believed that there are ambiguities and confusion in …
EPISTEMOLOGICAL CERTAINTY IN EDMUND HUSSERL’S PHENOMENOLOGY: A CRITICAL EVALUATION ABSTRACT This research investigates and evaluates epistemological certainty from Edmund Husserl position and the expedition of his Phenomenology. From time immemorial, philosophers have battled strenuously to prove that certain knowledge is possible and such knowledge can be attained; since epistemology originates from the sceptic challenge to …
A PHILOSOPHICAL ANALYSIS OF THE IMPLICATIONS OF JOHN DEWEY’S INSTRUMENTALISM ON ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT ABSTRACT This work is an attempt to examine the philosophical arguments presented by John Dewey with respect to the theory of knowledge for practical gains. The work sought to clearly articulate Dewey’s thought within the framework of ideas and experience and how …
THE CONCEPT OF PAUL TAYLOR’S BIOCENTRIC ETHICS ABSTRACT Ethics as an aspect of axiology has always existed strictly as a human affair. This had given rise to the conclusion that human centered ethics, in its conception and articulation is insufficient in the face of the present day environmental problem; since humans neither consider the natural …
THE CONCEPT OF RIGHT IN THE POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY OF HEGEL ABSTRACT The overall context of this study is Hegel’s concept of Right, that is, the entire normative structure of social life. However, Hegel’s concept of State as an end in itself betrays the dialectical element in his thought, thereby posing the question of the relation …
THE EVALUATION OF HEIDEGGER’S ONTOLOGICAL DECONSTRUCTION ABSTRACT The question of being which is very ambiguous in its application and roll leads the field of metaphysics into some unclear grounds. Metaphysics appears so transcendental and dogmatic that the issues that surround it appear very confusing. Heidegger in the 20th century believes strongly that the problem here …
TIV PRINCIPLE OF POWER-SHARING, YA NA ANGBIAN, IN TIV SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY ABSTRACT The Tiv concept of power-sharing, ya na angbian, is a socio-political philosophy that the Tiv have been practising since the pre-colonial era. However, little effort has been made to explore the philosophical element of thisphilosophy. In this exposè, the researcher traces …
WITTGENSTEIN’S CONCEPTION OF LANGUAGE AND ITS IMPLICATION FOR JURISPRUDENCE. ABSTRACT The meaning of an expression, or relation between words in general language usage is ascertainable if the special use of language is understood. A major criticism leveled against the language of law has been the idea that the language of law is indecipherable and barely …
IMPLICATIONS OF AYN RAND’S OBJECTIVIST ETHICS IN MODERN DAY SOCIETY ABSTRACT Ayn Rand advanced and propagated the view that rational selfishness should be pursued at all cost instead of altruism, that the individual should be allowed by all to live as he or she pleases. The only duty of government, according to her, is to …
IMPLICATIONS OF KARL POPPER’S THEORY OF INCREMENTAL CHANGE ON THE QUEST FOR SOCIO-POLITICAL REVOLUTION IN NIGERIA ABSTRACT Karl Popper (1902 – 1994), a Vienna-born philosopher advanced a liberal theory of Incremental Change also known as “piece meal social engineering” which prefers reforms to revolution. He had argued that in view of the ontological fallibility of …
KARL POPPER ON MYTHS AND TRADITIONS ABSTRACT The predominant opinion that science has the explanation and solution to natural and social problems can be summed in the words of Mel Thompson that ‘science is a massive problem-solving and information gathering enterprise’. Thoughts such as this relegate other forms of knowledge and the benefits therein to …
METAPHYSICS AND DEVELOPMENT- THE EXPERIENCE OF THE TIV PEOPLE OF NORTH-CENTRAL NIGERIA ABSTRACT Traditionally, Tiv society is stupendously moral. The degree of morality is supposed to be sustained in everything that the Tiv person does at any point in time. Any attempt at disturbing the equilibrium that exists in the world or nature is met …
PHILOSOPHY OF FREEDOM AND HUMAN DESTINY IN CHINUA ACHEBE’S THINGS FALL APART; NO LONGER AT EASE AND ARROW OF GOD ABSTRACT This dissertation is an attempt to examine critically the complex nature of; and the ironies of human life wishes in human society. It looks into the seeming absurdity, paradox and contradictions presented by the …
ROBERT NOZICKS ENTITLEMENT THEORY OF JUSTICE AND THE CRISIS IN THE NIGER DELTA, NIGERIA ABSTRACT For the world to be fit to live in, there needs to be a preponderance of peace, and peace is not the absence of war, but the presence of justice. Hence, Augustine says, “remove justice and what are kingdoms but …
STUDY OF MIKHAIL BAKUNNS CONCEPT OF POWER AND AUTHORITY ABSTRACT The work centres on the study of Mikhail Bakunin’s concept of Power and Authority. Power and Authority are so central in the organisation of any society. No society can thrive in a situation where nobody is in control. Philosophers all through the ages have advocated …
SUICIDE IN ALBERT CAMUS EXISTENTIALIST PHILOSOPHY ABSTRACT Albert Camus’ ideology of suicide emanates from human experience of absurdity and metaphysical nihilism. From the frustration of the oppressive social order to the ravaging physical and of psychological effects of indifference of nature to mankind and fallible individual actions, the choice of taking one’s own life becomes …
TEMPORALITY IN MARTIN HEIDEGGER ABSTRACT In Heidegger’s conception of time, Dasein temporalises its own Being and as such constitutes time. Temporality here is the temporality of Dasein. But the question of Dasein is the question concerning the meaning of Being in general. Heidegger holds that for the question of the meaning of Being to be …
THE CONCEPT OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL RELATIONS IN CLAUDE AKE’S PHILOSOPHY- IMPLICATIONS FOR AFRICA ABSTRACT Labour is primarily human effort applied in production for the provision of food for the sustenance of his being. Human labour is also used to make tools which make for the creation and recreation of his economic and other material …
AN EVALUATION OF HERBERTL. A. HART’S CONCEPT OF RULE ABSTRACT Hart’s The Concept of Law (1961) argues for a complex legal positivism which finds the source of legal authority in the acceptance by a community of a system of rules which is grounded in a fundamental rule of recognition that determines what is to be …
AN EVALUATION OF THE CONCEPTS OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND EQUALITY AMONG THE TIV PEOPLE OF BENUE STATE, NIGERIA ABSTRACT This work seeks thematically to demonstrate the universal availability of the idea of Human right and the Principle of Human equality in all cultures of the world. By so doing, it seeks to expose, analyze and …
AN EVALUATION OF THOMAS KUHN’S CONCEPT OF PARADIGM SHIFT IN SCIENCE ABSTRACT The purpose of this study is to expose and evaluate Thomas Kuhn’s concept of paradigm shift in science with a view to showing that scientific progress is not achieved by appealing to traditional methods of doing science only. Scholars who uphold the traditional …
AN EXAMINATION OF THE CONCEPT OF MORALITY AND POLITICS IN ARISTOTLE’S PHILOSOPHY ABSTRACT Morality entails everything about man’s action, what he ought to do and what he ought not to do. Like moral standards and moral values, morality forms part and parcel of the life of every social group and civil society. Man as a …
CONCEPTUAL ANALYSIS OF PERSON AND PUNISHMENT IN IMMANUEL KANT’S MORAL THEORY ABSTRACT Deep in the mind of human beings lies the conviction that a rough sense of justice demands the infliction of proportionate loss and pain on the aggressor as he has inflicted on his victim; the prominence of the ‘an eye for eye’ in …
EVALUATION OF FULLER’S CONCEPT OF LAW AND MORALITY ABSTRACT Lon. L Fuller saw law both as a system of rules and as a purposive activity. Besides, Fuller discussed two concepts of morality: the morality of aspiration and the morality of duty. The morality of aspiration is the morality of good life, excellence, and fullest realization …
EVALUATION OF ROBERT NOZICK’S ENTITLEMENT THEORY ABSTRACT Robert Nozick’s Entitlement Theory consists of three principles of justice in Acquisition, in Transfer and in Rectification. The entitlement theory of Nozick entails that a person is entitled to a holding if he followed the principle of acquisition, transfer and rectification. Raising the issue of equitable distribution and …
EVALUATION OF THE BUDDHAS SOLUTION TO HUMAN SUFFERING ABSTRACT Suffering and its opposite, happiness, are the basic push and pull of every human action, thus their centrality in human existence. In the 6th century B.C, Gotama Siddhatta, who later became the Buddha, was struck by the reality of human suffering. For this, he abandoned all …
HANS-GEORG GADAMER ON PREJUDICE AND THE TRANSMODER PROJECT ABSTRACT There is no doubt that there is an urgent need to imagine another world in the face of the fall outs of the current world order. The urgency of this need for ‘another world’ or ‘a world in which all worlds fit’ is the primary motivation …
HUMAN NATURE AND SOCIALISM IN KARL MARX ABSTRACT The measure of self-centeredness with which political actors operate at the international level is the primary motivation for this research. The research explores Karl Marx’s conception of human nature within the context of his conception of socialism as an alternative to the excessive self-centeredness with which actors …
AN EVALUATION OF AYN RAND’S ETHICAL SYSTEM ABSTRACT Rational egoism encapsulates Ayn Rand’s ethical system. According to this theory, the only ethically good actions are those that are channeled towards self-aggrandizements. Reason which is the basic surviving and epistemological tool of man is the only means for discovering what is good and bad .Emotions and …
AN APPRAISAL OF KANT’S PERSPECTIVES ON HUMAN KNOWLEDGE ABSTRACT There is a dialectical relationship between theory and practice, which finds expression in Kant’s philosophy. From the Socratic era to the modern period of Philosophy, philosophers were preoccupied with the investigation into the nature, scope, and limits of human knowledge, an enterprise that culminated in the …
ALTERITY AND REVERSIBILITY IN MERLEAU-PONTY- A DISCOURSE ON CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND MINORITY RIGHTS ABSTRACT Cultural diversity is increasingly becoming an inevitable feature of most modern states. This is because trade, tourism, international dialogue amongst scholars, scientists and artists and the movement of skilled labour as well as migration have ensured that few countries do not …
A CRITIQUE OF PAUL TAYLOR’S BIOCENTRIC EGALITARIANISMA ABSTRACT Contemporary societies have become bedevilled by environmental problems like drastic climatic change, health problems, and the loss of land, habitats, and wildlife. In most places these problems are a direct consequence of man’s exploitation of nature. Since it is arguable that attitudes influence action, the hitherto unquestioning …
A CRITICAL EVALUATION OF GILBERT RYLE’S CONCEPT OF MIND ABSTRACT This study emerged out of the need to understand the contemporary global tension and agitations for freedom and self expression at all levels. Such quests that have resulted in so much agitations, terrorism and even outright wars in diverse places are also a result of …