This thesis is a critical study of the traditional mind-body problem from the perspective of the Yoruba (African) concept of a person. The thesis attempted to see a plausible Yoruba response to the mind-body problem vis-à-vis the problem of defining a person. The methods of inquiry are those of critical exposition, conceptual clarification and analytical evaluation. The research involved consultation and analysis of existing inter-disciplinary literature on the Philosophy of Mind; a critical study of relevant published Ifa Literary Corpus; and discussion sessions with practitioners of Ifá and other genres of Yoruba folktales, as well as Yoruba-speaking individuals on their ideas of the Yoruba concept of a person.
The specific objectives are to critically outline the nature of the mind-body problem, analytically present what may be regarded as a plausible account of the Yoruba concept of a person, see whether the mind-body problem arises for the Yoruba concept of a person, do a comparative study of contemporary scientific concepts of a person and the Yoruba concept of a person and finally, to do a philosophical appraisal of the Yoruba concept of a person vis-à-vis its response to the mind-body problem, and the implication of that concept of a person for social existence.
The thesis uncovered what may be identified as the Yoruba Multiple-aspect concept of a person, in the light of which the mind-body problem does not arise when, rather than viewed as a separate entity the mind is viewed as a state or ability of the body. The research concluded, in the light of what it outlines as the Yoruba Multiple-aspect concept of a person, that the socio-ethical problems and the destructive and negative uses to which the fruits of the advancements of the physical sciences have been put are the unfortunate consequences of man’s rather unfortunate attempt to define himself in the simplest and most parsimonious terms.
Table of Contents
DUALIST THEORIES OF A PERSON AND THE NATURE OF THE MIND-BODY PROBLEM
1. 0 INTRODUCTION
1. 1. BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
1. 2. DUALISM AND THE MIND-BODY PROBLEM
1.3. DUALIST THEORIES OF A PERSON
1. 3. 1. CARTESIAN DUALISM
1. 3. 2. OCCASSIONALISM AND PSYCHO-PHYSICAL PARALLELISM
1. 4. SOME MONIST RESPONSES TO MIND-BODY DUALISM
1. 4. 1. THE IDEALIST RESPONSE
1. 4. 2. THE MATERIALIST RESPONSE
1. 5. NON-COMMITTAL RESPONSES
AN OUTLINE OF THE YORUBA CONCEPT OF A PERSON
2. 0. INTRODUCTION:
2. 1. THE YORUBA CONCEPTION OF REALITY
2. 2. THE YORUBA COSMOGONY
2. 3. YORUBA COSMOLOGY
2. 4.THE IFA LITERARY CORPUS AND RELATED DOCUMENTED UNDOCUMENTED ORAL SOURCES ON THE YORUBA ONTOLOGY OF A PERSON
2. 5. MATERIAL ASPECTS OF THE YORUBA ONTOLOGY OF A PERSON
2. 5. 1. NON-MATERIAL ASPECTS OF THE YORUBA ONTOLOGY OF A PERSON
2. 6. CRITICAL INTERPRETATION
THE MIND-BODY PROBLEM AND THE YORUBACONCEPT OF A PERSON
3. 0. INTRODUCTION
3. 1. DISTINCTION BETWEEN SUBSTANCE THEORIES OF MIND AND NON-SUBSTANCE THEORIES OF MIND
3. 2. YORUBA ACCOUNT OF MENTAL PHENOMENA
3. 3.THE MIND-BODY PROBLEM IN RELATION TO THE YORUBA CONCEPT OF A PERSON
3. 3. 1 THE IDEA OF A ‘CATEGORY MISTAKE’ AND THE YORUBA ACCOUNT OF THE MENTAL
3. 3. 2. LOGICAL BEHAVIORISM AND THE YORUBA ACCOUNT OF MENTAL PHENOMENA
A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF CONTEMPORARY SCIENTIFIC AND YORUBA CONCEPTS OF A PERSON WITH REFERENCE TO THE MIND-BODY PROBLEM
4. 0. INTRODUCTION
4. 1. FORMULATIONS OF MATERIALISM
4. 1. 1. Dialectical Materialism
4. 1. 2. Reductive Materialism
4. 2 REDUCTIVE MATERIALISM AND THE SCIENTIFIC CONCEPT OF A PERSON
4. 2. 2.SMART AND ARMSTRONG ON THE MIND-BRAIN IDENTITY THEORY
4. 2. 3. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, NEURO-SCIENCE AND THE MIND-BODY PROBLEM
4. 3. A COMPARISON OF THE YORUBA AND CONTEMPORARY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF A PERSON WITH REFERENCE TO THE MIND-BODY PROBLEM
4. 3. 1. SOME POINTS OF SIMILARITIES
4. 3. 2. DISSIMILARITIES: DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE DESCRIPTIVE AND NORMATIVE ACCOUNT OF CAUSATION
A PHILOSOPHICAL APPRAISAL OF THE YORUBA
5. 0. INTRODUCTION
5. 1. YORUBA CONCEPT OF A PERSON: FURTHER CRITICAL INTERPRETATION
5. 2. THE YORUBA MULTIPLE-ASPECT CONCEPT OF A PERSON
5. 2. 1. A YORUBA INTERPRETATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE MENTAL AND OTHER ASPECTS OF A PERSON
5. 3. AN OUTLINE OF THE SOCIAL (OR NORMATIVE) DIMENSION TO THE YORUBA CONCEPT OF A PERSON
5. 4. ORÍ AND ÈNÌYÀN (PERSON) IN THE YORUBA SOCIETY
5. 4. 1. A SOCIAL INTERPRETATION OF ORÍ
5. 5. IMPLICATIONS FOR SOCIAL EXISTENCE
5. 6. CONCLUDING REMARKS
Objectives and Research Themes
The primary objective of this work is to provide a critical, analytico-philosophical appraisal of the traditional mind-body problem from the perspective of the Yoruba concept of a person. The research evaluates whether the mind-body problem, as defined by Western metaphysical traditions, arises within Yoruba culture and offers a comparative analysis between Yoruba ontologies and contemporary scientific (physicalist) views on the nature of human existence.
- The historical development and nature of the mind-body problem in Western metaphysics.
- A detailed reconstruction of the Yoruba ontology of a person, utilizing oral traditions, literature, and the Ifa Literary Corpus.
- A comparative analysis between Yoruba perspectives and Western scientific reductionism regarding the mind and brain.
- The examination of the Yoruba concept of Orí (inner head/destiny) and its role in human social and moral existence.
- An evaluation of the implications of Yoruba philosophical thought for contemporary discourse on free will, determinism, and social responsibility.
Excerpt from the Book
1. 1. BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Man, everywhere is essentially faced with similar basic concerns among which are the search for food, shelter and clothing. In addition to these are two metaphysical concerns. The first of this fundamental twin-concern is that of understanding human nature. The second is that of determining, on the basis of the first, what ought to be man’s relationship with the world in which he finds himself.
In essence, man everywhere, despite what may appear to be sharply contrasting environments and differing experiences, raises and attempts to give answers to a myriad of deeply intertwined questions in his attempt to understand his place in nature. He asks for example, ‘who am I?’, ‘what is the purpose of my existence?’, ‘how am I to relate with the forces of nature within which I find myself situated?’, ‘What ought to be my relationship with other beings that share almost essentially uniform characteristics with me?’, ‘Am I going to live here on earth forever?’, ‘Will I be survived by any part of my living self when I die?’, ‘If there is, which part is it and what is its nature?’, ‘Am I a free agent?’ ‘Or, are my actions determined by some other force(s)?’, ‘Is there a creator for this universe of which I am a part? And most importantly, how do I know anything at all?’
These significantly fundamental questions have impressed themselves on various peoples in various epochs. In fact, a people’s culture – comprising their beliefs, law, art, moral and the totality of their designs for living — reflects the people’s collective response to these questions. One significant lesson from the history of cultures is that a people’s culture is largely determined by their collective experiences. It is experience that shapes how a people views reality, how they view themselves, how they view others and how they come to view their place in relation to others.
Summary of Chapters
DUALIST THEORIES OF A PERSON AND THE NATURE OF THE MIND-BODY PROBLEM: This chapter outlines the historical origins of the mind-body problem in Western metaphysics, focusing on dualist frameworks and various philosophical responses to the relationship between the mental and physical.
AN OUTLINE OF THE YORUBA CONCEPT OF A PERSON: This chapter provides an exposition of Yoruba ontology, examining key concepts such as ara (body), emi (life-force), and the Ifa Literary Corpus as a foundational text for understanding the Yoruba view of existence.
THE MIND-BODY PROBLEM AND THE YORUBACONCEPT OF A PERSON: This section investigates whether the traditional mind-body problem arises within the Yoruba conceptual scheme, challenging the dualist assumptions prevalent in Western philosophy.
A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF CONTEMPORARY SCIENTIFIC AND YORUBA CONCEPTS OF A PERSON WITH REFERENCE TO THE MIND-BODY PROBLEM: This chapter compares Western materialist-monist views with the Yoruba multiple-aspect conception of a person, highlighting similarities in their rejection of dualist entities and differences in their underlying causal theories.
A PHILOSOPHICAL APPRAISAL OF THE YORUBA: The final chapter synthesizes the previous discussions to appraise the Yoruba concept of a person, exploring its normative and social dimensions and its implications for human existence, morality, and social order.
Keywords
Yoruba Philosophy, Mind-Body Problem, Ontology of a Person, Ifa Literary Corpus, Cartesian Dualism, Materialism, Metaphysics, Emi, Ori, Ara, Cultural Philosophy, Human Nature, Epistemology, Normative Ethics, Social Existence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary goal of this research?
The research aims to provide a critical, analytico-philosophical appraisal of the traditional mind-body problem by investigating it through the lens of the Yoruba concept of a person.
What central themes are explored in this work?
The work explores Western and Yoruba metaphysical frameworks, the ontology of a person, the nature of mental phenomena, and the implications of these philosophical views for moral and social life.
What is the core research question?
The core question is whether the traditional Western mind-body problem—conceived as a relationship between two disparate entities—arises within the context of Yoruba thought.
What methodology does the research employ?
The research uses the method of explanatory analysis, critical evaluation, and cross-cultural comparison, drawing on both existing philosophical literature and oral traditions, including the Ifa Literary Corpus and focus-group interviews.
What are the main topics discussed in the body of the work?
The body of the work covers dualist and monist theories in Western philosophy, the Yoruba cosmology and ontology of a person, a comparative analysis between Yoruba and scientific concepts, and the normative dimension of Yoruba personhood.
Which keywords best characterize this study?
The study is best characterized by keywords such as Yoruba Philosophy, Ontology, Mind-Body Problem, Metaphysics, Emi, Ori, Ara, Materialism, and Cultural Philosophy.
How does the Yoruba concept of 'Ori' differ from the Western 'soul'?
The research argues that while 'Ori' is often translated as 'soul', it encompasses a much broader, value-laden concept involving destiny, character, and individual agency, which does not fit the Western definition of a purely spiritual soul.
What conclusion does the author reach regarding the mind-body problem in Yoruba culture?
The author concludes that the traditional mind-body problem, as a conflict between two separate ontological entities (mind vs. body), does not exist for the Yoruba, who view the person as a complex, multiple-aspect, and harmonious whole rather than a composite of two disparate substances.
- Quote paper
- Amodu Akeem (Author), 2003, The Mind-Body-Problem from the perspective of the Yoruba (african) Concept of a Person, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/382488
