A CRITICAL EVALUATION OF THE CONCEPT OF MAN IN URHOBO TRADITIONAL PHILOSOPHY

Abstract

Man is seen as a cosmic reality who occupies the apex of the pyramids of existence and contains all their values. This is a reality that needs a philosophical justification. Philosophy involves a rigorous evaluation of the values man has either acquired or inherited from his forebears. It is thus this call for a re-examination of our values that this study analysed the concept of man in Urhobo traditional philosophy. Data were gathered through the use of key informant interviews and secondary sources, which were subjected to analytical cum historical analysis. Findings revealed that the concept “man” exists in the preliterate Urhobo society, against the notion of some scholars, especially the westerners, that what existed in such a society is no less than an “irrational being”. It was made clear in this study that the Urhobos, like other African traditional peoples, are capable of logical reasoning; for their survival as a people is due to their traditional system of reasoning upon which their norms and values are validated. Thus, the Urhobos answered the question on the existence of man from a historical cum metaphysical perspective. They see man as both a historical and temporal being who exists within space and time.