Dorothy Oluwagbemi-Jacob - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Dorothy Oluwagbemi-Jacob
Lwati: a journal of contemporary research, 2011
In an attempt to justify certain forms of political arrangements, assorted theories about the nat... more In an attempt to justify certain forms of political arrangements, assorted theories about the nature of human beings have been postulated: their driving needs and capacities, whether they are selfish or altruistic. Are there common traits in human beings everywhere or are people’s characters mainly shaped by their circumstances? Is corruption peculiar to Nigerians or its spread a function of other variables? This paper critically examines the pivotal themes of human nature with a view to addressing the issue of corruption in Nigeria. It explores the theoretical underpinnings of the notion of corruption as well as exposes the modes of corrupt practices as these pertain to Nigeria. It asserts that corruption forms part of the acquisitive drive of human beings and that this tendency is perennial and universal. It is the thesis of the paper that the explanation for the ubiquity of corruption in Nigeria must be sought in the social, economic, political and cultural circumstances of the people. Connected to this is the fact that commitment to political obligation on the part of the leadership and the governed has suffered a dislocation. This constitutes a cog in the wheel of Nigeria’s Development. The paper suggests that corruption in Nigeria can be drastically reduced through radical measures such as combative political will and reciprocal social will of the governed. This can be achieved through a three dimensional revolution namely: ethical, educational and judicial revolutions. Keywords : Human nature, corruption, Nigeria, political obligation, leadership, value system. LWATI: A Journal of Contemporary Research , 8(1), 306-318, 2011
Philosophia Africana, Dec 1, 2022
Dialogue and universalism, 2023
In this paper, we will critically examine the notion of rationality and the disabling instinct of... more In this paper, we will critically examine the notion of rationality and the disabling instinct of self-preservation that play out in human relationships. That “man is a rational animal,” as Aristotle declared is usually taken for granted in social studies. But whether humans act rationally all the time, and in all circumstances remains questionable. Here, we shall investigate this concern from a decolonial perspective by engaging some contradictions thrown up in the context of coloniality within which a section of humanity dehumanizes the rest. The question then is, how rational is the intellectual program of coloniality? Taking a cue from conversational thinking that places the notion of relationship at the center of decolonial analysis, we argue that coloniality fractures the inter and intra-racial relationships due mainly to the instinct of self-preservation that overwhelms human rationality. What has emerged today as the superior/inferior divide, racialism, classism, internal colonialism, ethnic cleansing, apartheid, xenophobia, and genocide are some of the consequences of warped and uncritical thinking driven by an extreme form of the instinct of self-preservation. We argue that the promotion of critical (higher-order) thinking in addition to ordinary (lower-order) thinking could be crucial in a decolonial program.
... language. Africans were made to speak the language of conquest other than their own. This led... more ... language. Africans were made to speak the language of conquest other than their own. This led to what Ngugi refers to as linguicide and linguistic famine or linguifam.Linguicide is conscious act of language liquidation. The ...
Philosophy study, Apr 28, 2014
Discussions about justice in cross-cultural context give rise to assorted theories. In this paper... more Discussions about justice in cross-cultural context give rise to assorted theories. In this paper, issues surrounding communalism as a theory of justice in African culture will be examined with a view to show that its principles of care and fellow feeling could be worked out to address the problem of alienation from society characterizing some members of the contemporary African society. Recognition of the social dynamics of human society and relationships is of essence to communalism. As a theory of justice and a world view, communalism describes the human being as "being with others" and what that should be. The expression, "I am because we are, and because we are, I am" is the driving force of the communalistic society. Such a society is characterized by care, love, belongingness, solidarity, and interconnectedness. The aim of this paper is to highlight the manifestations of the idea of justice in communalism using leadership or governance, consensus in decision making, moral rules, punishment for wrong doing, and the equitable distribution of resources. It also aims to show that the communalist idea of justice is integrationist in outlook being constitutive of political and socioeconomic elements, which the individual enjoys in practical terms as opposed to the paper rights, which citizens in much of the contemporary societies enjoy. The paper notes that drastic changes have occurred in the socioeconomic relations within African societies as a consequence of acculturation subsequent to European colonization and these have had far reaching consequences.
Dialogue and Universalism
In this paper, we will critically examine the notion of rationality and the disabling instinct of... more In this paper, we will critically examine the notion of rationality and the disabling instinct of self-preservation that play out in human relationships. That “man is a rational animal,” as Aristotle declared is usually taken for granted in social studies. But whether humans act rationally all the time, and in all circumstances remains questionable. Here, we shall investigate this concern from a decolonial perspective by engaging some contradictions thrown up in the context of coloniality within which a section of humanity dehumanizes the rest. The question then is, how rational is the intellectual program of coloniality? Taking a cue from conversational thinking that places the notion of relationship at the center of decolonial analysis, we argue that coloniality fractures the inter and intra-racial relationships due mainly to the instinct of self-preservation that overwhelms human rationality. What has emerged today as the superior/inferior divide, racialism, classism, internal co...
Philosophia Africana, Dec 1, 2022
Fahsanu Journal, Sep 27, 2018
Fahsanu Journal, Sep 1, 2020
Lwati: a journal of contemporary research, 2011
In an attempt to justify certain forms of political arrangements, assorted theories about the nat... more In an attempt to justify certain forms of political arrangements, assorted theories about the nature of human beings have been postulated: their driving needs and capacities, whether they are selfish or altruistic. Are there common traits in human beings everywhere or are people’s characters mainly shaped by their circumstances? Is corruption peculiar to Nigerians or its spread a function of other variables? This paper critically examines the pivotal themes of human nature with a view to addressing the issue of corruption in Nigeria. It explores the theoretical underpinnings of the notion of corruption as well as exposes the modes of corrupt practices as these pertain to Nigeria. It asserts that corruption forms part of the acquisitive drive of human beings and that this tendency is perennial and universal. It is the thesis of the paper that the explanation for the ubiquity of corruption in Nigeria must be sought in the social, economic, political and cultural circumstances of the p...
Philosophy Study, 2014
Discussions about justice in cross-cultural context give rise to assorted theories. In this paper... more Discussions about justice in cross-cultural context give rise to assorted theories. In this paper, issues surrounding communalism as a theory of justice in African culture will be examined with a view to show that its principles of care and fellow feeling could be worked out to address the problem of alienation from society characterizing some members of the contemporary African society. Recognition of the social dynamics of human society and relationships is of essence to communalism. As a theory of justice and a world view, communalism describes the human being as "being with others" and what that should be. The expression, "I am because we are, and because we are, I am" is the driving force of the communalistic society. Such a society is characterized by care, love, belongingness, solidarity, and interconnectedness. The aim of this paper is to highlight the manifestations of the idea of justice in communalism using leadership or governance, consensus in decision making, moral rules, punishment for wrong doing, and the equitable distribution of resources. It also aims to show that the communalist idea of justice is integrationist in outlook being constitutive of political and socioeconomic elements, which the individual enjoys in practical terms as opposed to the paper rights, which citizens in much of the contemporary societies enjoy. The paper notes that drastic changes have occurred in the socioeconomic relations within African societies as a consequence of acculturation subsequent to European colonization and these have had far reaching consequences.
Philosophy Study, 2015
The aim of this paper is to examine some theories of gender with a view to use them as bases for ... more The aim of this paper is to examine some theories of gender with a view to use them as bases for evaluating, assessing, and analyzing gender equality and inequality in Igbo traditional culture. In pursuance of this aim, particular attention will be paid to Igbo leadership practice. Were men and women equal in traditional Igbo culture? If they were, which theories of gender equality are thereby corroborated and which are refuted? Was the political landscape of the traditional Igbo a male terrain or was there a balance between men and women? What was the degree of participation of both men and women? The paper lays down certain criteria in order to determine equal or unequal or complementary status. These include access to resources, autonomy, and power. One or two lessons are drawn from the insights.
Volume 11 Number 1 June 2011, 2011
... language. Africans were made to speak the language of conquest other than their own. This led... more ... language. Africans were made to speak the language of conquest other than their own. This led to what Ngugi refers to as linguicide and linguistic famine or linguifam.Linguicide is conscious act of language liquidation. The ...
Lwati: a journal of contemporary research, 2011
In an attempt to justify certain forms of political arrangements, assorted theories about the nat... more In an attempt to justify certain forms of political arrangements, assorted theories about the nature of human beings have been postulated: their driving needs and capacities, whether they are selfish or altruistic. Are there common traits in human beings everywhere or are people’s characters mainly shaped by their circumstances? Is corruption peculiar to Nigerians or its spread a function of other variables? This paper critically examines the pivotal themes of human nature with a view to addressing the issue of corruption in Nigeria. It explores the theoretical underpinnings of the notion of corruption as well as exposes the modes of corrupt practices as these pertain to Nigeria. It asserts that corruption forms part of the acquisitive drive of human beings and that this tendency is perennial and universal. It is the thesis of the paper that the explanation for the ubiquity of corruption in Nigeria must be sought in the social, economic, political and cultural circumstances of the people. Connected to this is the fact that commitment to political obligation on the part of the leadership and the governed has suffered a dislocation. This constitutes a cog in the wheel of Nigeria’s Development. The paper suggests that corruption in Nigeria can be drastically reduced through radical measures such as combative political will and reciprocal social will of the governed. This can be achieved through a three dimensional revolution namely: ethical, educational and judicial revolutions. Keywords : Human nature, corruption, Nigeria, political obligation, leadership, value system. LWATI: A Journal of Contemporary Research , 8(1), 306-318, 2011
Philosophia Africana, Dec 1, 2022
Dialogue and universalism, 2023
In this paper, we will critically examine the notion of rationality and the disabling instinct of... more In this paper, we will critically examine the notion of rationality and the disabling instinct of self-preservation that play out in human relationships. That “man is a rational animal,” as Aristotle declared is usually taken for granted in social studies. But whether humans act rationally all the time, and in all circumstances remains questionable. Here, we shall investigate this concern from a decolonial perspective by engaging some contradictions thrown up in the context of coloniality within which a section of humanity dehumanizes the rest. The question then is, how rational is the intellectual program of coloniality? Taking a cue from conversational thinking that places the notion of relationship at the center of decolonial analysis, we argue that coloniality fractures the inter and intra-racial relationships due mainly to the instinct of self-preservation that overwhelms human rationality. What has emerged today as the superior/inferior divide, racialism, classism, internal colonialism, ethnic cleansing, apartheid, xenophobia, and genocide are some of the consequences of warped and uncritical thinking driven by an extreme form of the instinct of self-preservation. We argue that the promotion of critical (higher-order) thinking in addition to ordinary (lower-order) thinking could be crucial in a decolonial program.
... language. Africans were made to speak the language of conquest other than their own. This led... more ... language. Africans were made to speak the language of conquest other than their own. This led to what Ngugi refers to as linguicide and linguistic famine or linguifam.Linguicide is conscious act of language liquidation. The ...
Philosophy study, Apr 28, 2014
Discussions about justice in cross-cultural context give rise to assorted theories. In this paper... more Discussions about justice in cross-cultural context give rise to assorted theories. In this paper, issues surrounding communalism as a theory of justice in African culture will be examined with a view to show that its principles of care and fellow feeling could be worked out to address the problem of alienation from society characterizing some members of the contemporary African society. Recognition of the social dynamics of human society and relationships is of essence to communalism. As a theory of justice and a world view, communalism describes the human being as "being with others" and what that should be. The expression, "I am because we are, and because we are, I am" is the driving force of the communalistic society. Such a society is characterized by care, love, belongingness, solidarity, and interconnectedness. The aim of this paper is to highlight the manifestations of the idea of justice in communalism using leadership or governance, consensus in decision making, moral rules, punishment for wrong doing, and the equitable distribution of resources. It also aims to show that the communalist idea of justice is integrationist in outlook being constitutive of political and socioeconomic elements, which the individual enjoys in practical terms as opposed to the paper rights, which citizens in much of the contemporary societies enjoy. The paper notes that drastic changes have occurred in the socioeconomic relations within African societies as a consequence of acculturation subsequent to European colonization and these have had far reaching consequences.
Dialogue and Universalism
In this paper, we will critically examine the notion of rationality and the disabling instinct of... more In this paper, we will critically examine the notion of rationality and the disabling instinct of self-preservation that play out in human relationships. That “man is a rational animal,” as Aristotle declared is usually taken for granted in social studies. But whether humans act rationally all the time, and in all circumstances remains questionable. Here, we shall investigate this concern from a decolonial perspective by engaging some contradictions thrown up in the context of coloniality within which a section of humanity dehumanizes the rest. The question then is, how rational is the intellectual program of coloniality? Taking a cue from conversational thinking that places the notion of relationship at the center of decolonial analysis, we argue that coloniality fractures the inter and intra-racial relationships due mainly to the instinct of self-preservation that overwhelms human rationality. What has emerged today as the superior/inferior divide, racialism, classism, internal co...
Philosophia Africana, Dec 1, 2022
Fahsanu Journal, Sep 27, 2018
Fahsanu Journal, Sep 1, 2020
Lwati: a journal of contemporary research, 2011
In an attempt to justify certain forms of political arrangements, assorted theories about the nat... more In an attempt to justify certain forms of political arrangements, assorted theories about the nature of human beings have been postulated: their driving needs and capacities, whether they are selfish or altruistic. Are there common traits in human beings everywhere or are people’s characters mainly shaped by their circumstances? Is corruption peculiar to Nigerians or its spread a function of other variables? This paper critically examines the pivotal themes of human nature with a view to addressing the issue of corruption in Nigeria. It explores the theoretical underpinnings of the notion of corruption as well as exposes the modes of corrupt practices as these pertain to Nigeria. It asserts that corruption forms part of the acquisitive drive of human beings and that this tendency is perennial and universal. It is the thesis of the paper that the explanation for the ubiquity of corruption in Nigeria must be sought in the social, economic, political and cultural circumstances of the p...
Philosophy Study, 2014
Discussions about justice in cross-cultural context give rise to assorted theories. In this paper... more Discussions about justice in cross-cultural context give rise to assorted theories. In this paper, issues surrounding communalism as a theory of justice in African culture will be examined with a view to show that its principles of care and fellow feeling could be worked out to address the problem of alienation from society characterizing some members of the contemporary African society. Recognition of the social dynamics of human society and relationships is of essence to communalism. As a theory of justice and a world view, communalism describes the human being as "being with others" and what that should be. The expression, "I am because we are, and because we are, I am" is the driving force of the communalistic society. Such a society is characterized by care, love, belongingness, solidarity, and interconnectedness. The aim of this paper is to highlight the manifestations of the idea of justice in communalism using leadership or governance, consensus in decision making, moral rules, punishment for wrong doing, and the equitable distribution of resources. It also aims to show that the communalist idea of justice is integrationist in outlook being constitutive of political and socioeconomic elements, which the individual enjoys in practical terms as opposed to the paper rights, which citizens in much of the contemporary societies enjoy. The paper notes that drastic changes have occurred in the socioeconomic relations within African societies as a consequence of acculturation subsequent to European colonization and these have had far reaching consequences.
Philosophy Study, 2015
The aim of this paper is to examine some theories of gender with a view to use them as bases for ... more The aim of this paper is to examine some theories of gender with a view to use them as bases for evaluating, assessing, and analyzing gender equality and inequality in Igbo traditional culture. In pursuance of this aim, particular attention will be paid to Igbo leadership practice. Were men and women equal in traditional Igbo culture? If they were, which theories of gender equality are thereby corroborated and which are refuted? Was the political landscape of the traditional Igbo a male terrain or was there a balance between men and women? What was the degree of participation of both men and women? The paper lays down certain criteria in order to determine equal or unequal or complementary status. These include access to resources, autonomy, and power. One or two lessons are drawn from the insights.
Volume 11 Number 1 June 2011, 2011
... language. Africans were made to speak the language of conquest other than their own. This led... more ... language. Africans were made to speak the language of conquest other than their own. This led to what Ngugi refers to as linguicide and linguistic famine or linguifam.Linguicide is conscious act of language liquidation. The ...