IGWEBUIKE AND THE QUESTION OF SUPERIORITY IN THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY OF KNOWLEDGE

Abstract 

A  cursory  glance  at  the  different  developments  in  the  different  epochs  in  the history  of  philosophy  reveals  the  continuous  resurfacing  of  the  problem  of superiority  in  the  scientific  community  of  knowledge.  In  Plato  we  see  an exaltation  of  the  discipline  of  philosophy  and  philosophers  far  above  others.  In Aristotle, we further encounter an exaltation of metaphysics far and above other fields  of  human  inquiry.  During  the  Medieval  period,  philosophy  becomes  a handmaid of theology- a mere tool for communicating theological truths. During the era of Karl Marx and the Logical Positivists, pure science is exalted far above metaphysics  and  religion.  During  the  1960s,  when  discussions  began  on Nigeria’s  national  development,  privileged  place  was  given  to  science  and technology,  while  the  arts  was  referred  to  as  ‘watery  arts’.  In  the  face  of  this superiority in the scientific community of knowledge, the question that arises is, how  should  it  be  handled?  Is  there  any  field  of  human  inquiry  that  is  more superior  to  the  other?  In  responding  to  the  questions  raised  by  this  piece,  the Indigenous  wholistic  theory  has  been  employed,  which  advances  IGWEBUIKE, an  African  complementary  philosophy  which  understands  every  field  of  human inquiry as contributing a piece, and not the complete whole of the truth. 

Keywords:  Igwebuike,  Superiority,  Scientific,  Community,  Knowledge, Aristotle, Plato.