DEPARTMENT OF PHILOSOPHY

This research critically examines Mogobe Bernard Ramose’s interpretation of Ubuntu as a foundational element of African philosophy. Ubuntu, often summarized as "I am because we are," emphasizes communal existence, interdependence, and human dignity. Ramose presents Ubuntu not only as a cultural ethic but as a legitimate philosophical framework capable of addressing both African and global socio-political issues. This work explores his arguments, highlighting how Ubuntu challenges dominant Western notions of individualism and rationalism. It also interrogates the limitations of Ramose’s position, especially regarding its applicability in contemporary, multicultural, and technologically advanced societies. By engaging with both supportive and critical perspectives, the study seeks to offer a balanced evaluation of Ubuntu’s relevance in modern philosophical discourse. Ultimately, the project argues that while Ramose’s articulation is valuable, Ubuntu must evolve to remain effective in addressing present-day challenges. The study contributes to the broader effort of decolonizing philosophy and promoting indigenous knowledge systems within academic spaces.

Marriage and the family constitute the foundation of social organization and cultural continuity in every society. Among the Meta people of Cameroon, marriage is not merely a union between two individuals but a communal and cultural institution that upholds traditional values, kinship ties, and social responsibilities. This study, titled “Marriage and the Family: A Critical Study of Marital Rights among the Meta of Cameroon,” critically examines the nature, scope, and implications of marital rights and obligations as practiced within the Meta community. The research explores how marital rights such as dowry, inheritance, child custody, and the roles of spouses reflect the cultural norms and gender dynamics of the Meta people. Using a qualitative approach that combines ethnographic observation and oral interviews, the study analyzes how traditional beliefs interact with modern legal and religious perspectives on marriage. It also investigates the impact of social change, globalization, and Christianity on the traditional marital system of the Meta. The findings reveal both the enduring strength of Meta customs and the emerging challenges that threaten the stability of family structures. The study concludes that understanding marital 10 rights within their cultural context is essential for promoting gender equity, social harmony, and cultural preservation in the Meta society.

A key component of morality or what tends to be moral has become quite contentious and topical in the 21st century due to the ever increasing number of persons who are involved in some same relationship or marriage. The 21st century has witnessed a rapid increase on the concepts of marriage that calls for gender neutrality rather than gender specification. There are so many philosophical (favorable and others against) arguments about the practice of same-sex marriage, ranging from religious, cultural, legal, and political grounds. Supporters pose that there is nothing immoral or abstract about it as long as it backed by the human rights doctrine. This work adopts the analytical methodology to rresearch into extant statutes vis-a-vis African traditional ethical values on marriage/family. The work discovers that whereas in western consideration, the concept of same-sex marriage contradicts the law (since the statutory definition of marriage has not been abdicated);
and that, the concept contravenes the norms and ethical values of traditional Africa. Besides, this study will serve as an additional study material on the issue of same-sex marriage, its ethical values if there is and its effect on modern day society. Hence the work suggests that concerning same-sex unions, the law should be silent; i.e., same- sex relationships should not be outlawed – for persons have the right to freedom of association; nor should it be legalized – for it will introduce a burden on the law to develop its principles of such marriage. By and large, same-sex relationship offends the basic moral ideal of human rational power higher and over bestiality.

Kenneth Kaunda, Zambia’s first president, crafted Zambian Humanism to guide post-independence nation-building, blending African communal traditions with Christian ethics to promote unity, equality, and human dignity. This socio-political philosophy aimed to counter colonial legacies and tribal divisions by merging socialist principles with African values, emphasizing collective welfare, nonracialism, and moral governance. This paper critically examines Humanism’s ideological roots, implementation, and societal impact in Zambia. It highlights successes like enhanced national unity and social welfare programs, while addressing shortcomings, such as economic struggles and authoritarian tendencies. The study also explores challenges in balancing traditional and modern governance. Through historical and philosophical analysis, it evaluates Humanism’s lasting influence on Zambian identity and its limitations in tackling complex socio- economic realities, offering insights into post-colonial ideological challenges in Africa.

Abortion represents more than a medical or moral decision; it is an existential dilemma that touches the deepest aspects of personal autonomy, dignity, and social belonging. Women who undergo abortion often confront not only the physical and emotional dimensions of the act but also the heavy weight of social and relIgious stigmatization. Such stigmatization creates an atmosphere of judgment and exclusion, reducing a profoundly personal experience to a source of shame. Abortion challenges cultural expectations that define womanhood in terms of motherhood and reproductive roles. When a woman chooses abortion, she is often perceived as defying communal values, leading to isolation, secrecy, and in many cases, long-term psychological trauma. The human cost of such stigmatization is often overlooked in public discourse, as attention is placed more on moral condemnation than on compassion and understanding. Abortion is frequently cast as a violation of divine order and the sanctity of life. This view, while deeply rooted in sacred traditions, often disregards the real human struggles. poverty, abuse, health risks, or personal circumstances that shape such choices. Yet within these same traditions exist currents of mercy, compassion, and contextual reasoning that recognize human frailty and moral complexity. This project argues that approaching abortion from a human perspective demands moving beyond rigid stigmatization toward empathy and dialogue. By affirming women as moral agents capable of difficult decisions, society and religion can create spaces for healing rather than condemnation. The problem of stigmatization reveals not only the tension between
life and choice but also the urgent need for a more humane ethic, one that values dignity, justice, and compassion in addressing the realities of abortion.

This study examines the moral dimensions of scientific discovery. It evaluates both its remarkable progress and the ethical challenges it presents. Science has undeniably transformed human existence through advancements in medicine, technology, communication, and space exploration. These developments have improved quality of life, expanded knowledge, and offered solutions to many global problems. However, alongside progress, science has also introduced complex moral dilemmas ranging from environmental degradation and weaponization of technology to ethical concerns in genetic engineering and artificial intelligence. Thus, this study critically assesses whether scientific advancement is being guided by moral responsibility or driven solely by curiosity and profit. It also explores the role of ethical frameworks in shaping scientific conduct. It argues that true progress must be measured not just by innovation, but by its impact on human dignity, equity, and sustainability. Hence, this project advocates for a balanced relationship between science and ethics to ensure that discovery serves humanity rather than endangering it.

This project holds significant importance in Igbo culture, a vibrant ethnic group in Nigeria witharich heritage and deep_ rooted traditions. This abstract explores the intricate relationshipbetween beauty both physical and moral, and character within the Igbo cultural context. It highlights the multifaceted dimensions of beauty, encompassing not only external appearancebut also inner qualities, virtues, and conduct. This project reveals that beauty and character areintricately intertwined in Igbo culture, where the cultivation of virtuous character traits is highlyvalued and regarded as the true essence of beauty.it sheds lights on the timeless wisdomembedded in Igbo traditions and offers insights into the multifaceted nature of beautyandcharacter in the context of a vibrant African culture.

Friedrich Nietzsche's theory of music, which integrates art, metaphysics, and human life, has a distinctive and significant position in contemporary aesthetics. According to Nietzsche, music is not just an artistic medium but the most immediate and essential representation of life itself. He sees music in The Birth of Tragedy (1872) as the purest expression of the "Dionysian" spirit, which is an elemental, untamed, and life-af irming energy that goes beyond reason and language. In contrast to other art forms, which depend on representation and form (the "Apollonian"), music communicates directly to the will and the core of being, providing a providing metaphysical comfort and exposing the underlying currents of human existence. Nietzsche's later works go on to highlight the revolutionary potential of music, praising its capacity to influence culture and individual personality while denouncing excessively intellectualized or decadent forms of it. musical art. This perspective is in stark contrast to two other well-known schools of thought on music. Nietzsche first admired Arthur Schopenhauer, who saw music as a direct
manifestation of the metaphysical "Will," the underlying reality of all phenomena, and thus raised its status. superior to all other arts in its ability to express the essence of the universe. Eduard Hanslick, on the other hand, maintained that the value of music resides in its structure, form, and autonomous beauty, regardless of its emotional or metaphysical content, in accordance with his formalist theory. The Analytic approach will be used in this study to analyze and try to evaluate Nietzsche's conception of music. As a result, Nietzsche's concept is at a crossroads between aesthetic experience and metaphysical depth: it extols music as a life-af irming force that goes beyond mere form and placing music as a deep and vibrant expression of human vitality while simultaneously refuting Schopenhauer's pessimism and Hanslick's aloofness

Artificial Intelligence has no doubt come to stay so much that it is incongruous to emergence of future world without it. The Impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is felt inalmost, if not all fields of human endeavours including medicine, engineering, etc.The downside of this remarkable innovation is that, if left unchecked, it might constitute serious danger to, not only mankind but the world generally.Through the hermeneutic and critical analysis method this study shall define its concepts and point the implications of AI Artificial Intelligence. It shall therefore argue subsequently that in spite of the enormous advantages of Artificial Intelligence, concerted efforts must be taken to checkmate its excesses.This shall be done through the lens of Aristotle’s virtueethics which is built on the foundation of moderation.

This study critically examines Thomas Kuhn’s incommensurability principle and its implications for ethnic diversity and national integration in Nigeria. Kuhn’s theory, developed in The Structure of Scientific Revolutions (1962), argues that scientific paradigms are often incommensurable, meaning that they operate within distinct conceptual frameworks that make mutual understanding and direct comparison difficult. This philosophical insight is applied here to Nigeria’s context, where over 250 ethnic groups coexist with divergent worldviews, languages, and cultural traditions. The central problem addressed is Nigeria’s enduring struggle with ethnic conflict and lack of cohesive national identity, despite decades of independence and numerous strategies for integration. The research employs a comparative, hermeneutical, and dialectical philosophical method. It is comparative in drawing analogies between scientific paradigms and ethnic worldviews; hermeneutical in interpreting Nigerian socio-political realities through the lens of Kuhn’s philosophy; and dialectical in examining tensions between competing ethnic perspectives and national unity efforts. The study evaluates Nigeria’s historical legacies of colonialism, civil war, and federal restructuring, showing how entrenched epistemic frameworks shape ethnic groups’ perceptions of justice, governance, and morality. Case studies (including Shari’a law in the north, resource control in the Niger Delta, and farmer–herder conflicts in the Middle Belt) illustrate how incommensurability plays out in Nigeria’s ethnic relations. Findings reveal that Nigeria’s integration crisis is not simply a matter of political mismanagement or economic disparity but is rooted in epistemological divides that echo Kuhn’s paradigm conflicts