The ontology of destiny and freedom among the Igbo-African: a discourse in existential metaphysics

• Authors: Ukwamedua, Nelson Udoka , Omokpo, Victor

Abstracts

EN

From an existential and metaphysical standpoint, the African world is dualised into the physical and metaphysical world. This is bald-faced in the dynamics of the relationship that characterizes the African worldview. In praxis, the metaphysical world is seen to be higher in the scheme of things because, it is from it that the impersonal beings/forces operate and superintend on the physical world of man. It is based on this that the twin issue of destiny and freedom is topical and recurrent in Igbo-African metaphysics. The concern is whether man can be free in the physical world, which seems to be a manifestation of the will/wishes and/or the whims and caprices of the beings/forces in the metaphysical world. It is consequent upon this that this paper undertook an existential analysis of these contending issues of freedom and destiny within the Igbo-African context. From the analysis, it was palpable that, though there can be manipulations from the metaphysical world which can bring about luck (good or ill), the Igbo-African is expected to make effort to excel and work responsibly with his chi; because, a man can have a good or bad luck but his/her practical effort is still expedient.

Keywords

EN

destiny; determinism; freedom; forces; metaphysical world; Igbo-African

• Publisher: Bialystok University Press
• Journal: IDEA. Studia nad strukturą i rozwojem pojęć filozoficznych
• Year: 2016
• Volume: 28/2
• Pages: 272-286

Dates

published

2016

Contributors

author

Ukwamedua, Nelson Udoka

author

Omokpo, Victor

References

• Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. London: Heinemann Education Book, 1958.
• Achebe, Chinua. Arrow of God. London: Heinemann Educational Books, 1964.
• Ajayi, Toluwalase. “Freedom, Choice And Responsibility: The Existentialist Analysis.” West African Journal of Philosophical Studies (2004): 15-20.
• Angeles, Peter. Dictionary of Philosophy. New York: Harper & Row, 1981.
• Anogbo, Francis. “Igbo Deities and Metaphysical Ethics.” Essence: International Interdisciplinary Journal of Philosophy, African Philosophy and Pathology of Godhood And Traditionalism 2 (2005): 132–143.
• Aristotle, Physics, Bk 2, Ch. 8, sec. 199b.
• Ibekwe, Josephat. Freedom and Self Discovery among the Igbos. Enugu: snap Press Ltd, 2003.
• Freud, Sigmund. Freedom. London: Macmillan, 1987.
• Irele, Diop. In the Tracks of African Predicament. Ibadan: Option Books & Information Services, 1993.
• Iroegbu, Pantelon. Metaphysics the Kpim of Philosophy. Owerri: International Universities press ltd, 1995.
• Iroegbu, Patrick. “IGA N’AJU: Three Igbo Modes of Mobilizing Extra Human Force to Heal Illness in African Societies.” Essence: International, Interdisciplinary Journal of Philosophy (Philosophy And African Medicine) 3 (2006): 63-70.
• Jahn, Janheinz. Muntu An Outline of the New African Culture. New York: Grove Press Inc, 1961.
• Malinowski, Branislaw. Issues of Freedom; Paradoxes and Promises. New York: Haoer, 1960.
• Mautner, Thomas. The Penguin Dictionary of Philosophy. England: Penguin Books, 1997.
• Njoku, Francis. Essays In African Philosophy, Thought and Theology. Owerri: Claretian Institute of Philosophy Nekede, 2002.
• Nwigwe, Boniface. “Causality in selected Igbo Cultural Novel Perspective in Igbo Metaphysical.” West African Journal of Philosophical Studies 7 (2004): 8-17.
• Okolo, Chukwudum. African Philosophy. A Short Introduction. Enugu: CCCTA (NIG) Limited, 1993.
• Omoregbe, Joseph. Metaphysics without Tears A Systematic and Historical Study. Lagos: Joja Press Ltd, 2002.
• Osuagwu, Maduakolam. A Contemporary History of African Philosophy. Amamihe Lectures Vol. IV. Enugu: Snaap Press Ltd, 1999.

Identifiers

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/11320/5715

DOI

10.15290/idea.2016.28.2.15