Nnadiebube Journal of Philosophy

Humans are complex in nature and unlike other non-human beings, they are difficult to comprehend fully at any given time. Throughout known history, philosophers, psychologists and indeed social scientists have made the task of understanding human nature one of their major concerns. For example traditional philosophical concerns such as the apparent conflict between ‘free-will’, determinism and moral responsibility, the nature of consciousness, the origin of language, the basis of values are all issues that weigh into the understanding of human nature. The ordinary person equates human nature with human character and feels that he understand human nature through the character and conduct of the people he meets. However studies especially in African philosophy reveal that in Africa, just like in the West, human are seen as composite beings with defined qualities, the only difference being that in Africa, human nature is better appreciated within the context provided by culture and society. In African context, human nature is seen, not as a static phenomenon with defined characteristics, but as a dynamic expression realized in faithful compliance with established cultural ideals, traditions and values. Thus man is defined in Africa as a cultural being. In this paper, we contend that some aspects of African culture, that is, culture understood in the normative sense as ideal values and rules for living can actually hinder the full expression of human nature and thus make for inauthentic existence, given the fact that authentic existence is better appreciated within the context of the distinction made between a reasoned choice and a blind or unreasoned conformism. We employ hermeneutic method in this paper.

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