Oracle of Wisdom Journal of Philosophy and Public Affairs

This paper critically examines the Hegelian idealist dialectic in contrast to Marx's materialist dialectic, focusing on the central issue of binary opposition and its limitations. Both philosophies, rooted in the law of excluded middle, present contradictions as mutually exclusive and resolved through synthesis. Through comparative and conceptual analysis methods, this paper argues that dialectics should transcend binary opposition and instead embrace complementarity, providing a more nuanced and holistic understanding of contradictions. Drawing on Jonathan Chimakonam'sEzumezu logic of complementarity, grounded in Igbo philosophy, the paper proposes a trivalent approach to contradictions. This framework synthesizes Hegel's idealism and Marx's materialism, viewing contradictions not as opposing forces but as interdependent and capable of transformation. Basically, the paper advocates for a more flexible and dynamic dialectical framework that acknowledges the coexistence and transformation of contradictions.

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