Appropriating the Ethos of Confucius for the Rebuilding of the Nigerian Commonwealth

Emmanuel Williams Udoh

doi:10.26858/pdr.v4i1.14794

Appropriating the Ethos of Confucius for the Rebuilding of the Nigerian Commonwealth

Emmanuel Williams Udoh^(1*),

(1) Department of Religious and Cultural Studies University Of Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.
(*) Corresponding Author

DOI: https://doi.org/10.26858/pdr.v4i1.14794

Abstract

The Nigerian commonwealth has been bastardized by our national political and economic managers. This has given rise to the current cry in search of unity, peace and patriotism of Nigerians. It can be said again that things have fallen apart and the centre seems not to hold any longer. The current wave of corruption, bloodshed, ethnic militia and communal and political subdivisions and carpet crossing at our political arena are clear signs of the deteriorating state of our Nigerian commonwealth. Good Nigerians desire to see Nigeria return back to her former glory of oneness, prosperity and pride. That is why this research explored the ethos of Confucius for the rebuilding of the Nigerian commonwealth. This work which is anchored on the sociological theory of “Structural Functionalism” propounded by Emile Durkheim (1850-1917) and adopted the qualitative or exploratory research method in gathering information. It employed the content analysis approach in examining available printed materials on the subject matter. The findings from the research showed that Nigerians have deviated from the ethical values that had initially been the source of strength and toe the path of selfishness, ethnicity and division. This new path became a path to corruption and disintegration. The research recommends an inclusiveness of human responsibility for improving life; adoption of an ideal political system founded on “ideals of personal conduct” rather than on formerly enacted laws; and adoption of a viable religious ethos that will revitalize the ailing economic, social and political status of the Nigerian commonwealth.

Keywords

Confucius; Ethos; Political; Religious; Commonwealth

Full Text:

pdf

References

Adora, C. U., & Irek, N. E. (2015). Interrogating the Indifferences in the Application of Statistical Techniques In Theatre Scholarship. Nduñòde 15(1).

Alumuna, S., Ofoegbu, R. C., & Edet, A. S. (2017). Militancy and Kidnapping in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria; A Recap. Elixir Social Studies, 112, 49425-49434.

Bowker, J. (2007). Beliefs that Changed the World. London: Quercus Publishing.

Edet, A. (2017). Crime Control And Policing The Nation States; The Nigerian Police In Focus. International Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Reviews, 7(2), 97-102.

Elston, J. (1982). “Marxism, Functionalism and Game Theory: The Case for

Eyo, E., & Ogar, J. N. (2014). The Socratic “Man know thyself” and the problem of personal identity. Sophia: An African Journal of Philosophy, 15(1), 69-73.

Fisher, Mary Pat. (2008). Living Religions. New Jersey: Pearson Education.

Ikegbu, E. A., Ogar, J. N., & Inyang, J. O. (2009). Nigeria’s ethnic diversity and its proneness to conflict and violence. Ndunode: Calabar Journals of the Humanities, 8, 109-182.

Ipuole, Roland Okayi. (2016). “Corruption and Related Offences in Nigeria: Perspectives on Fraud, Obstruction of Justice and Violation of Due Process.” Ed. Uti Egbai and Emeka C. Ekeke. Anti-Corruption Studies Vol.1. Calabar: Centre for General Studies and Communication Skills. 18-42.

Irek, N. E. (2018). Advertising as an Effective Promotional Tool for Theatre Marketing in Nigeria. Nsukka Ikenga International Journal of Institute of African Studies, 18(1).

Irek, N. E., & Charles, E. (2015). Theatre Practice in Nigeria: Surveying the Past and Present. Ifok Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 2(1).

Methodological Individualism.” Theory and Society 11(4), 453-482.

Microsoft Corporation, 2008.

Munro, D. J. (1985). Individualism and Holism: Studies in Confucianism and Taoist Values. Michigan: Michigan UP.

Nigosian, S. A. (1990).World Faiths. New York: St. Martin’s.

Ritzer, G. (1996). Sociological Theory. Maryland: McGraw Hill.

Roemer, J. (1986). “Rational Choice’ Marxism: Some issues of Method and Substance.” J. Roemer (ed.). Analytical Marxism. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1986b, 191-201.

Stock, R. (2008). "Nigeria." Microsoft® Encarta® 2009 [DVD]. Redmond, WA:

Streng, F. J. (1976). Understanding Religious Life. Belmont: Wadsworth Publishing.

The Mencius. (1960) Trans. by B. Watson, in Sources of Chinese Tradition, Comp. by

Twiss, S. B. (2011). “Confucian Contributions to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: A Historical and Philosophical Perspective.” Ed. Sharma. Arvind. The World’s Religions: A Contemporary Reader. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 102-114.

Uduigwomen, A. F., & Edet, M. I. (2004). The primacy of the family in the philosophies of Confucius and Aristotle, and in African philosophy: A comparative analysis. Sophia: An African Journal of Philosophy, 7(1), 83-89.

W. T. de Bary, Wing-tsit Chan, and N. Watson. New York: Columbia University Press. 1050-1060.

Yinger, J. M. (1970).The Scientific Study of Religion. New York: MacMillan Publishing.