Igbo Theory Of Knowledge: Theoretical And Methodological Considerations

Abstract

Ontological truth held by traditions in the history of human knowledge is that man irresistibly, desires to know. The Igbo is not precluded from treading this rational part. Contrarily, Eurocentric’s as a mythology enunciates an I-other/we-they epistemic divide, serving an ideological project. White is rational black is not. This ideological space differentiation sought to foundation every other construct, in economics and politics, in the socio-culture and religion, and even in epistemology. It is argued that philosophical enterprise arises out of individual rational activities. Whatever is thought and discussed of any reality and sphere of human activity stems out of a particular epistemic matrix and paradigms, mental or ideological coloration of a people. It is not the case that every thought or rational enquiry amounts to a philosophy. Similarly cultural practices cannot be exhumed as philosophy. But given this moulding, the problems of relativism and commensurability not withstanding, we can talk of Igbo theory of knowledge as reflecting a perspective of this universal enterprise.