A physician in the University-College-Hospital-Ibadan vowed that his first action as Nigerian president would be to execute all Nigerian philosophers.[1] He insisted that the Nigerian philosophers have failed to produce and propagate suitable remedial ideas for the Nigerian society. Societies are organized according to the ideas (philosophies) produced or adapted, and propagated over time in the society. Hence, the situation of a society is a reflection of the prevalent philosophies, ideas and thought patterns in that particular society. The Nigerian social situation is an indication of philosophical malnutrition resulting from Nigerian philosophers’ barrenness, or the regurgitation of unsuitable philosophies. The defense that Nigerians do not listen or adopt philosophical suggestions does not excuse the inefficacy leading to philosophical malnutrition.
Food contributes to the growth and general health of the human body. However, all foods are not suitable for everybody and every time. The food for infants vary from the food for children, for teenagers and for adults. Also, age mates react differently to several foods as one man’s meat could be another man’s poison. Hence, nutritionists consider an individual’s peculiar circumstances before recommending foods for the individual’s growth and wellbeing. They also prescribe different methods of presenting the food to make it attractive to the consumers.
As there are different developmental stages in human digestive system, there are also developmental stages in the human society. I believe there are four different stages of national development:[2]
- Achievement of Internal distinction and maturity of composite ethnic communities in a nation. This is for the ethnic communities to know who they are, what they have, what they can produce /distribute and what they need from other people.
- Assessment of compatibility between component ethnic communities for their new national partnership. Can they tolerate and complement the values of one another in order to live in peace?
- Alignment of purpose and capacity of the composite communities. Does each ethnic community have/produce what the others require in order to collaborate for more productivity and progress?
- Formal agreement on the terms and conditions for living and working together, which is formally known as constitution.[3]
As each human stage has its suitable type of food, each level of social development requires specific philosophy for justice and progress. Feeding an infant with ‘undiluted’ adult food causes harm to the baby’s digestive system. Also, forcing unevaluated ideas from established nations and societies on emerging nations may only lead to philosophical malnutrition.
Philosophy is the continuous and logical evaluation of the beliefs that influence and affect humans in their search for good life in their environment. Philosophers are like the nutritionists of a society who evaluate the content and quality of beliefs circulated in a society. They evaluate and recommend ideas for the adequate growth of peace and progress in the society. These are ideas formed to address social issues in religion, law, politics, health, production and distribution, arts and general human relationship.[4]
Nigeria, like many other African societies, is yet to achieve the first stage of social development, which is internal maturity. Compared to many other societies, Nigeria is still battling with the infant stage of social development. “Nigerians have never agreed – or been given the chance to agree – what Nigeria is.”[5] The ethnic communities that form Nigeria were clashingly bundled up into an imposed form of colonial government.[6] The ethnic communities are not allowed to decide who they are, own their lands and resources, and determine how they produce and distribute their resources.
Unfortunately Nigeria has not realized the effect of the missing localized philosophy in its society, so it continues to regurgitate foreign ideas. Even the Nigerian philosophers seem unready to form and effectively propagate suitable ideas from real situations in the society. Instead, they dwell on the career-driven-lecture-styles and grammar of presenting and aligning with foreign-baked philosophical ideas. This style of philosophical presentations are applauded for being tough, rigorous and abstract thoughts for “intellectuals” and elite (pocket) dignitaries. Nigerian philosophers seem reluctant to make and present “local” evaluations of influential ideas among common Nigerians in simplified and practical methods. This has exposed common Nigerians to philosophical malnutrition in ideas from some modern media, songs, movies and terrible religious doctrines.
Beliefs, ideas and thought-patterns are foods for the human mind, and the human society at large. As nutritionists evaluate human food for safety and growth, philosophy evaluates human beliefs and ideas for social justice and progress. Philosophical malnutrition is a result of unhealthy beliefs manifesting as social injustice, poverty, fear, greed, terrorism and general bitterness. It is like food poisoning which arises from the consumption of incompatible or unhealthy food elements. Since, human society advances according to discoveries, without proper philosophical evaluation of ideas for the people, the society remains poisoned.
In summary, the present-day academic philosophers are busy ‘forming’ scholarly presentation of lofty ideas for their heavenly/elitist and ‘intellectual’ audience. These heavenly intellectuals hardly constitute 5% of Nigeria’s population, who can afford the time and rigor for such lofty jargons. Then, the street Philo-SUFFERS (torturers of wisdom) feed the remaining 95%+ masses with affordable but erroneous ideas of “the-good-life”. The affordable ideas are direct and easy to grab: ‘all I want is your waist’, ‘pay money and receive your material and individualistic miracle’, ‘life is all about the money yeh’, ‘kill for God and get paradise’. These ideas are more vocal, accessible, applicable and repeatable. Thus, they are more promoted over the boring, elite-focused and unadaptable philosophical jargons, abi na brouhaha una dey call am.
[1] Take his words metaphorically as blaming Nigerian philosophers for ineffectiveness in addressing the situation in Nigeria
[2] Chukwunwike Enekwechi, Principles of progressive social structure http://restartnaija.com/2017/02/23/social-structure-for-progressive/ retrieved on 03/08/2017
[3] Ibid
[4] Cf. Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan. (New York: Macmillan Publishing company, 1962). 70-71
[5] Richard Dowden, Africa altered states, ordinary miracles. (New York: Public Affairs, 2010). p.445
[6] Cf. Ogban Ogban-Iyan, Re-inventing Nigeria through Pre-colonial Traditions, in, Issues in contemporary political economy of Nigeria. Edited by Hassan A. Saliu (Ilorin: T.A. Olayeri press, 1999). p70
Well Said, I scarcely have thought about this in this light. Nigeria is indeed bereft of healthy philosophical ideas. And the pertinent question is where are the philosopher king? In book VI of the Republic, Plato reminds us that philosophers must become kings or those now called kings must genuinely and adequately philosophize. According to Plato, Philosopher king is a ruler who possesses both a love of knowledge, as well as intelligence, reliability, and willingness to live a simple life. Looking at the state of our Nation Nigeria one may say that the philosopher kings have abandoned or deserted their duty post for a plate of porridge yam.
You have said it clearly. Instead of finding solutions to express in the people’s languages, Our philosophers are busy speaking big big grammar to get favour from the people manhandling the society.
Well Said, I scarcely have thought about it in this light. Nigeria is indeed bereft of healthy philosophical ideas. And the pertinent question is where are the philosopher king? In book VI of the Republic, Plato reminds us that philosophers must become kings or those now called kings must genuinely and adequately philosophize. According to Plato, Philosopher king is a ruler who possesses both a love of knowledge, as well as intelligence, reliability, and willingness to live a simple life. Looking at the state of our Nation Nigeria one may say that the philosopher kings have abandoned or deserted their duty post for a plate of porridge yam.
You have said it clearly. Instead of
finding solutions to express in the people’s
languages, Our philosophers are busy
speaking big big grammar to get favour
from the people manhandling the society.
Speaking with every equanimity, I wish to give a thumb up to this insightful reasoning put down here. I think Mr Nwike was absolutely thought perfect in underlining this substantial element that determines the health of any society. A society that does not think has no future. Perhaps one could say emphatically that in Nigeria we have exiled reason as Fr Akinwale would opine. No one seems be championing the healthy philosophies of our founding fathers. Instead what we see is our youths upholding some dangerous philosophical ideologies from other parts of the world, capable of ruing any society. The whole problem is traceable to the sterile education system we operate in Nigeria, a mere “garbage in garbage out”. In my own words, it’s learning in isolation. I maintain that if we do not go back to the drawing board and pay maximum attention to the upbringing of the young ones right from the cradle, we will continue to get a generation of thoughtless adults and idle minds. And with this set of people, the future will remain clad.
Truly a garbage in garbage out system of isolated education.
Nigerian Educational System need rigorous Change in methodology and Ethics
Truly, we need to evaluate what we are teaching in schools today. The teachings have little bearing on the society, hence we produce brilliant chaps with nothing to show for it
All men are philosophers who seek wisdom. Some however choose it as a discipline and these we know as academic philosophers.
Theorizing may be more popular than use of force in opposing evil but it is in itself also a contributing factor, for that which is written may inspire another to act.
Academic philosophers do not necessarily have to become rulers, rulers on the other hand as well as citizens should seek wisdom which will help in governance.
Like Voltaire would say, we are all guilty of the good we fail to do.
All men are philosophers who seek wisdom. Quote of the day.
Nemo dat quod non habet, whether a philosopher or not. Guy try to be specific and stop that generalism .
I was not generalizing, my brother. I am tracing back a cause from the manifestation of its effects in Nigeria. This does not however, imply that there are no Nigerian philosophers trying to do their best towards social renewal.
I once met a 27 year old PHD student in UI. Sje was very ambitious about her thesis on road surfacing in Ibadan. 3 years after we met at a conference in Lagos and she was with a multinational agent for sustainable development. I asked about about her project amd she mentioned it received accolades upon her graduation bit has joined thousands of other PHD projects lying dusty in some store room in UI. My point in our society is not structured in ways that intellectual research can foster development. We simply study and research and that is end of story. Lots of phiolosopers- analytic, African, political…dish out papers upon papers that our political leaders are never aware exist. Our leadership is agbero leadership..all commers affair and that can lead us no where. No wonder we keep recycling pre Biafran war problems in 2017. Recently security agents raided a civilian home contrary to UN security agent report that such action will likely plunge the country into crisis..who cares anyway. Once oga says shoot, they just do devoid of any intellectual rigour. We need a paradigm shift, such that recognises the inherent importance of intellectual rigour in nation building. Unless that happens, we will keep running the rat race.
Very well said. The important issue is “how do we obtain that paradigm shift?” Because it appears that we generally believe that there has to be a paradigm shift, but we are yet to resolve and pursue that paradigm shift.