Random Thoughts on the Concept of Mind in a Material Cosmos (Published)
The concept of mind has dominated the philosophical discourse from the earliest times. Perhaps, it was the inspiration of the philosophical enquiry. The mind has always been at the center of man’s quest for meaning. It is the principal questioner of existence. It is the chief interpreter of reality. The mind is the eye of the self. It is in the mind that we become conscious of our selfhood as entities different from the rest of the world. The mind is often thought to be a category other than matter. It is said to be apart from matter but somehow acts on matter. It is often seen as the primary substance in existence. While some thinkers posit the sole reality of matter, some posit the primary of reality of mind. Some still, posit the primary but not sole reality of matter. Still, some posit a duality of mind and matter. But the critical question subsists. How do we explain the reality of mind in a material cosmos? This question warrants reexamining the traditional assumptions on the nature of mind, the qualities of matter, and perhaps, reexamining the language used in defining the concepts of mind and matter. If mind meant the opposite of matter, there could neither be any mind in a material cosmos nor matter in a spiritual cosmos. But the cosmos is the way it is. We are merely trying to comprehend it. The cosmos does not necessarily have to conform to the constructs we make about it. Mind and matter are linguistic constructs formulated to explain the realities we witness in the cosmos. To that end, this work looks at the possibility of a mind in a cosmos that is material. The work aims at resolving the linguistic, scientific and philosophical dichotomies encountered in discussing the concept of mind. The research relies on philosophical analyses and library research.
Keywords: Mind, concept, material cosmos, random, thoughts
The Meaning of Prayer to Children: Evidence from Selected Denominations in Ibadan, Oyo State Nigeria (Published)
Prayer, the art of talking with God, is an activity that Christian children are regularly involved in. This study examined the meaning of prayer to children, and the differences in the meaning of prayer based on denomination, age and gender. This research was a qualitative study which employed a phenomenological design. Bandura’s Social Learning Theory and Jean Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development are the major theories guiding this study. Data collection methods consisted of a semi structured interview, through observations, uncompleted sentences, picture reading and letter writing. The respondents consisted of forty (40) children, ten (10) from each of the four (4) denominations: Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Catholic Church in Nigeria (CCN), Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry (MFM) and the Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC). Denominations were chosen for their varied prayer practices. The respondents were grouped into two: older children aged 11-12 and younger children 7-8. Data was analysed using NVivo 11 Pro for Windows. This study revealed that the significance or meaning of prayer for younger and older children is talking to God whom they believe has the power to answer their prayers; however, He can only do this when they pray. Also it is a sequence of powerful words/phrases that they formed or set recited (known of by heart) and said (verbally and in their minds), and actions/activities that were done at a certain time or locations. The children mentioned the significance of prayer as connected to Christianity. Prayer was the very essence of life and of Christianity. According to the children, without prayer, life would be meaningless and a prayer-less Christian is a pretender. Thereby, showing once again that children get their significance or meaning of prayer from within the society they live Prayer is caught and prayer is taught, parents and denominations should be careful what they teach formally or informally to children.
Keywords: Christ Apostolic Church, Conversation, Denomination, God, Jesus, Mary, Mind, children, key, prayer, set- recited prayers, verbally
The African Meta-Medical Science of Ukpugho Ukpong (Soul Transplantation): A Philosophical Critique (Published)
The human soul has been believed to be immaterial and immortal element which exclusively inheres in the human body. Ukpugho ukpong (soul transplant) is an ancient meta-medical science of the Annang and Ibibio people, which is hinged on the belief that the human soul is transcendent and it exclusively inheres in proxy animal; that the soul is mortal, and can be surgically transplanted in the likeness of somatic tissue transplant. This study aimed at carrying out a philosophical critique of this belief in order to determine its significance as a metaphysical concept. It also aimed at critically examining the philosophical as well as sociological discussions on the subject of ukpuho ukpong. The study was discussed on the framework of African concept of mind which holds that the soul has dual nature, namely – the Active Principle and the Quiescent Counterpart. The paper debunks the doctrines of metempsychosis and transmigration as alien to African metaphysics. The method of ordinary language analysis was employed to analyze the concepts ukpong and mbukpong. In conclusion, the paper made the following observations that: the soul is transcendent but perishable substance, the mind has dual nature, the soul does not transmigrate and the science of ukpuho ukpong is not a pseudo-metaphysical concept but was founded on African logic of dualistic mind. The paper notes that the science of ukpuho ukpong is bugged with a number of unresolved philosophical problems. Despite that the paper discovered that the science of ukpuho ukpong can contribute significantly to meta-medicine and sustainable environmental values.
Keywords: Africa, Annang, Metempsychosis, Mind, Proxy Animal, Soul Transplant, Ukpugho Ukpong
