Philosophy and National Development in Nigeria
Towards a Tradition of Nigerian Philosophy
Global Africa Series

What does it imply for Nigerian philosophers to conscientiously and engagingly reflect on Nigeria as a place of philosophy and as a dynamic plural context of socioeconomic, political, cultural and ethnic problems? Any answer to this question automatically constitutes the opening salvo to the reflection on the evolution of a Nigerian tradition of philosophy and philosophizing. This book represents such an initial salvo in in its attempt to hammer out the conditions for the possibility of a Nigerian tradition of philosophy by placing that endeavor in between the triadic challenges of the Nigerian political economy, the African philosophical theorizing and the global epistemological hegemony. How do these three dynamics condition the evolution and functional relevance of the philosophical enterprise in Nigeria? How have Nigerian philosophers responded to them? What is Nigerian philosophy? How can there be a "Nigerian" philosophy when there are no Nigerians? This book is also an attempt to contribute to the trajectory of philosophy education in Nigeria within the context of a postcolonial educational system and university dynamics that stultifies the role of the intellectuals in development.

From Plato to Wiredu, from Bodunrin to Bourdieu, and from Heidegger and Nietzsche to Fanon, Mignolo and Santos, the book traces a trajectory of dynamics rethinking of existing paradigms and epistemological assumptions that could enable a robust evolution of a Nigerian tradition of philosophy that possesses sufficient clout to confront its historicity and its place in Nigeria?s development impasse.

Dedication

Preface & Acknowledgements

Introduction

Chapter One

The Incidence of Philosophy in Nigeria

Chapter Two

The Homo Academicus Nigerianus

Chapter Three

The Nigerian State Encounters Philosophy

Chapter Four

Western Epistemology and Popular Epistemologies

Chapter Five

Nigerian Philosophy without Nigerians? Tradition, Philosophy, and Plurality

Chapter Six

The National Character of Philosophy

Chapter Seven

Philosophy and the Idea of Thinking

Chapter Eight

Bios Theoretikos /Bios Politikos: Theory, Practice, and the Challenges of a Nigerian Tradition of Philosophy

Chapter Nine

Social Philosophy as Social Hope: Nigerian Philosophy and the Archaeologies of Governance

Conclusion: Envisioning Nigeria: Towards Postmetaphysical Nigerian Philosophy

Adeshina Afolayan is a Lecturer at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria.