Scepticism and the Emergence of Intellectual Orientations in the History of Western and African Philosophical Traditions
IBIYEMI, Sheriff Olasunkanmi
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5290-5835
Department of Philosophy, Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos
ONIPEDE, Gabriel Tunde
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8320-5455
Department of General Studies, Federal University of Allied Health Sciences, Enugu, Nigeria.
moscoagora@gmail.com
Abstract
Scepticism is an aspect of Epistemology which is the life force of Philosophy, yet many are led to the belief that this radical field does no good to human search for the ultimate reality. This paper argues that everyone is a sceptic even if they do not recognise this fact. It is also revealed here that the history of philosophy is the history of scepticism. The moment Thales expressed doubts whether the Gods can be the source of the Universe and its laws and then opted for water, reveals the beginning of the sceptical challenge that still bestrides philosophy till posterity. It is hereby maintained that Scepticism is the prime factor among many others for the development of a new schools of thought in Philosophy. This work exposes the development of German Idealism from Kant’s sceptical conclusions. It also shows the birth of Marxism from the scepticism Karl Marx raised about Hegel’s grounding of reality in the Absolute Spirit. The Neo-Idealists raised brows that led to a positive philosophy in the 20th century, called Logical Positivism. The formulation of Husserlian phenomenology from Cartesian ‘cogito’ is uncovered as the sceptical challenge of the ability to think critically on the part of Africans led to African Philosophy. It is here concluded that Scepticism is an aspect of philosophy which rouses man from his dogmatic slumber.
Keywords: African Philosophy, History of Thought, Phenomenology, Scepticism, Western Philosophy.