Nnadiebube Journal of Philosophy

The objectives of this study are twofold namely: to identify the place of the Supernatural as a response to Patrick and David who argued against its possibility; and to include the missing link, both in Ozumba’s articulation and formulation of Integrative Epistemology. Historical, textual, and contextual methods of analysis are employed in this research. In their essay, Identifying Some Epistemological Issues in Philosophy of Religion, Patrick and David argued that integrative epistemology has no link with the Supernatural, or religion. However, we respond that there is evidence of the Supernatural, and indeed, religion in integrative epistemology; and argue that the spiritual dimension of integrative epistemic discourse is an insight Ozumba gained from Philosophy of Religion. After the skeptics’ challenge, and the debate between the rationalists and the empiricists, the logical positivists threw metaphysics overboard with their verifiability principle. The advent and strident voice of postmodernism downplayed traditional epistemology, especially justified true belief (JTB) and foundationalism. Ozumba’s Philosophy and Method of Integrative Humanism encapsulates integrative epistemology as its offshoot. Integrative Epistemology synergises the cleavages among epistemological theories by positing that, “all epistemological theories can form a necessary link with one another to form knowledge”; but failed to include the historical dimension of integration in knowledge. Therefore, we add the missing link - historical integrative epistemology to Ozumba’s articulation and formulation of nine (9) pillars of integrative epistemology, and then, locate the place of the Supernatural in Divine Revelational knowledge, the sixth of the nine pillars, and also, a precursor of integrative epistemic discourse.

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