Traditional Ethics and Social Order: A Study in African Philosophy

Emmanuel J. Udokang

Abstract


Traditional ethics in this paper refers to the norms, precepts, principles and moral codes, which regulate the conduct and actions of individuals in African societies. The paper provides a clear understanding of African ethics and morality. It shows how traditional ethical principles helped to maintain and ensure social order and stability in traditional African societies. It x-rays the effects of Western civilization and culture on the smooth functioning of traditional ethics. It recommends the utilization of traditional ethical principles in the development of the abundant human and material resources in modern Africa, especially in this age of globalization. The paper finally advocates a harmonization of the positive elements of traditional ethics with Western culture for a better moral society in contemporary Africa.


Keywords


Traditional Ethics; Social order; African philosophy

Full Text:

PDF

References


Abogunrin, S. O. (1986). Religion and Ethics. In S. O. Abogunrin (Ed.), Religion and Ethics in Nigeria (pp.1-13). Ibadan: Day Star Press.

Asouzu, I. I. (1998). False consciousness and moral responsibility in Africa. In A. F. Uduigwomen (Ed.), Sophia: African journal of philosophy (pp.1-13). Calabar: University of Calabar Press.

Basden, G. T. (1966). Among the Ibos of Nigeria. London: Frank Cass.

Berger, P. (1967). The social reality of religion. Harmondsworth: Penguin.

Burton, R. A. (1946). A mission to Gelele King of Dahomey (2nd ed.). London: Tinsley Brothers.

Divine, C. A. (1986). African religion and the quest for ethical revolution. In S. O. Abogunrin (Ed.), Religion and Ethics in Nigeria (pp.37-50). Ibadan: Day Star Press.

Ekechi, F. (1989). Tradition and transformation in Eastern Nigeria: A socio-political history of owerri and its hinterland, 1902-1947. London: Kent State University Press.

Ekwuru, G. E. (1999). The pangs of an African culture in travail. Owerri: Totan.

Esomonu, L. (1981). Respect for human life in Igbo religion and morality. Rome: Tipographica.

Idowu, B. E. (1962). Olodunmare: God in Yoruba belief. Longman.

Ilogu, E. C. (1974). Christianity and Igbo culture. New York: Nok.

Iwe, N. S. S. (1991). Socio-Ethical issues in Nigera. Obasi: Pacific Publishers.

Kalu, O. U., & Nwosu, H. N. (1982). The study of African culture. In O. U. Kalu (Ed.), Readings in African humanities: African cultural development (pp.3-14). Engugu: Fourth Dimension.

Mbiti, J. S. (1975). Introduction to African traditional religion. London: Heinemann.

Mbiti, J. S. (1969). African religions and philosophy. London: Heinemann.

Nadel, S. F. (1954). Nupe religion. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul.

Opoku, K. A. (1978). West African traditional religion. Accra: Fep.

Ozumba, G. O. (1995). African Ethics. In A. F. Uduigwomen (Ed.), Footmarks on African Philosophy (pp.52-61). Lagos: Obaroh and Ogbinaka.

Russell, B. (1992). Human society in Ethics and politics. London: Routledge.

Shorter, A. W. F. (1973). African culture and the Christian Church. London: Geoffrey Chapman.

Tempels, P. (1959). Bantu: Philosophy. Paris: Presence Africaine.

Wiredu, K. (1983). Morality and religion in Akan thought. In H. O. Odera & D. A. Wasola (Eds.), Philosophy and Culture (pp.7-19). Kenya: Bookwise.




DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3968/%25x

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2014 Emmanuel J. Udokang

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.


Share us to:   


Reminder

  • How to do online submission to another Journal?
  • If you have already registered in Journal A, then how can you submit another article to Journal B? It takes two steps to make it happen:

1. Register yourself in Journal B as an Author

  • Find the journal you want to submit to in CATEGORIES, click on “VIEW JOURNAL”, “Online Submissions”, “GO TO LOGIN” and “Edit My Profile”. Check “Author” on the “Edit Profile” page, then “Save”.

2. Submission

Online Submission: http://cscanada.org/index.php/ccc/submission/wizard

  • Go to “User Home”, and click on “Author” under the name of Journal B. You may start a New Submission by clicking on “CLICK HERE”.
  • We only use four mailboxes as follows to deal with issues about paper acceptance, payment and submission of electronic versions of our journals to databases: caooc@hotmail.com; office@cscanada.net; ccc@cscanada.net; ccc@cscanada.org

 Articles published in Cross-Cultural Communication are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC-BY).

 CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION Editorial Office

Address: 1055 Rue Lucien-L'Allier, Unit #772, Montreal, QC H3G 3C4, Canada.
Telephone: 1-514-558 6138 
Website: Http://www.cscanada.net; Http://www.cscanada.org 
E-mail:caooc@hotmail.com; office@cscanada.net

Copyright © Canadian Academy of Oriental and Occidental Culture