Science and African Metaphysics :: Africa Government Papers

Science and African Metaphysics If one takes the African situation as a case study, one finds that serious efforts are made for the sake of scientific progress and exploration. However, the results attained are not comparable to the energy expended. Lack of progress is often attributed to faulty policy formation and execution on the part of African leaders and governments. This essay attempts to shed light on the source of this problem. The heuristic principle I follow holds that the metaphysical preconditioning of consciousness leads us to approach sensory data in particular ways and, furthermore, influences both our formulation of problems and possible solutions. I note the lapses in African metaphysics and sketch an alternate metaphysics which I hope will inaugurate a new African system of thought. INTRODUCTION The distinctions Between metaphysics As Body Of Beliefs and metaphysics as a Tool Of Exploration shall serve as the foundation of this essay. The essay would review and highlight some important characteristics of metaphysics as the most fundamental science and the basic tool of exploration. This claim, among others, has incidentally been the root of most harsh and destructive criticisms against metaphysics as a quest in futility. (1) These doubts and criticisms notwithstanding the understanding of metaphysics as the catalyst of scientific progress and exploration would be upheld in this essay. This is borne from the insight that scientific progress is sustained by the urge to go beyond each attainable results. To stimulate this urge, whether real, hypothetical or even imaginary would be identified in this essay as the pride of metaphysics. Yet not all quest for quantitative and qualitative scientific growth based on this urge is rewarded with the same amount of progress. If the Afric an situation is taken ask a case study, one discovers that serious and consistent efforts are made within this area to ask questions that go beyond the possible limits of attainable results. Yet the curious energy expanded within the African context in terms of search for scientific answer to challenging problems does not always seem to have yield commensurate results as comparable to what is obtainable elsewhere. A pertinent question then is this: Why is a quest sustained by the urge towards breaking new grounds fundamentally the same, but the results in terms of tangible or recognisable results remain at variance? TWO MODELS OF METAPHYSICAL INQUIRY Two models shall be put up for reflection - the science oriented model and the mythological model.