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Lagos: Excel Publishers,
1992.
143 pages
ISBN 978-30130-3-3
(African Philosophers Series)
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This volume from the Nigerian philosopher Sophie B. Oluwole contains essays and lectures from 1976 to the 1990's. It is divided into two sections: 1. Eternal Problems and 2. Political Questions.
In the first section, Oluwole applies herself two questions which play an important part in everyday African life: the analysis of magic, the belief in God, and the principles of Yoruba morality. The author emphasises that these phenomena are not be approached from a rigid, scientific perspective which excludes anything that does not fit within the system. Mysteries are phenomena which are not yet understood, however, this does not mean that they can never be understood. Science should not simply ignore them or declare them not real, but should analyse and document these phenomena instead, attempting to understand how they operate. Thus Oluwole, influenced by the theory of cognition, attempts to ascertain the thought processes which underlie these approaches to the world and how they influence social structures.
The essays in the second part of her volume are somewhat provocative, concerning political questions. In the article "Institutional Neutrality and Academic Freedom", she proposes that the claim of the universities for academic freedom cannot be separated out from the the issue of the individual neutrality of every single academic. The core of academic freedom and intellectual integrity is simply indifference to the results of investigations. Provided that political freedom is exercised under the umbrella of academic freedom, the engagement of political institutions is justified in Oluwole's opinion. Her analysis concerning "Democracy or Mediocrity" is similarly provocative. Democracy is based on universal suffrage and eligibility, but, whilst the right to vote as a basic political right is beyond question, universal eligibility is a little more problematic. Humans are different in both qualities and abilities, consequently, not all human beings are equally qualified to exercise power. Thus, the problem of modern, democratic societies is their neglect of the individual differences in people. They are perceived as having to be "equal". Oluwole argues that it is the task of modern political science to find a solution to this problem.
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