ABSTRACT
Karl Popper (1902 – 1994), a Vienna-born philosopher advanced a liberal theory of
Incremental Change also known as “piece meal social engineering” which prefers
reforms to revolution. He had argued that in view of the ontological fallibility of
human rationality, the safest course in human actions should be to make sure that all
programmes of change are advanced in small steps so that unexpected ill-effects of
any action is closely checked. For him, socio-political revolution is quite ingenious
but also perilously inclined to irrationalism, without consideration of the
unpredictability of human actions and the changeability of phenomenon. He further
notes that, the incremental approach to change involves self-criticism, tactfulness and
certainty and is therefore more scientific in character, while revolutionary approach is
always inspired by holism, utopianism, aestheticism and historicism and it lacks selfcriticism
and also involves much of speculation that often leads to unexpected results.
In recent times, however, there is almost a general consensus among Nigerians that
the socio-political realities in the country need change. And a reasonable population
of Nigerians is arguing that the task of reinventing a new socio-political order in
Nigeria can only be realised through a revolution by the masses owing to the
disposition and unpreparedness of the ruling class to alter the status quo. This work
therefore seeks to demonstrate the implication of Karl Popper’s theory of incremental
change on the increasing quest for socio-political revolution in Nigeria with the aim
of proposing an option for Nigeria in her quest for a socio-political transformation and
sustainable development.
TERSOO, A (2021). Implications Of Karl Popper’s Theory Of Incremental Change On The Quest For Socio-Political Revolution In Nigeria. Afribary. Retrieved from https://afribary.com/works/implications-of-karl-popper-s-theory-of-incremental-change-on-the-quest-for-socio-political-revolution-in-nigeria
TERSOO, AGUNDU "Implications Of Karl Popper’s Theory Of Incremental Change On The Quest For Socio-Political Revolution In Nigeria" Afribary. Afribary, 13 May. 2021, https://afribary.com/works/implications-of-karl-popper-s-theory-of-incremental-change-on-the-quest-for-socio-political-revolution-in-nigeria. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
TERSOO, AGUNDU . "Implications Of Karl Popper’s Theory Of Incremental Change On The Quest For Socio-Political Revolution In Nigeria". Afribary, Afribary, 13 May. 2021. Web. 22 Nov. 2024. < https://afribary.com/works/implications-of-karl-popper-s-theory-of-incremental-change-on-the-quest-for-socio-political-revolution-in-nigeria >.
TERSOO, AGUNDU . "Implications Of Karl Popper’s Theory Of Incremental Change On The Quest For Socio-Political Revolution In Nigeria" Afribary (2021). Accessed November 22, 2024. https://afribary.com/works/implications-of-karl-popper-s-theory-of-incremental-change-on-the-quest-for-socio-political-revolution-in-nigeria