A Philosophical Appraisal of the Concept of Common Origin and the Question of Racism

Moses Oludare Aderibigbe

General Studies Department, School of Sciences, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.

DOI: 10.4236/ojpp.2015.51003                

Abstract

The quest for a definite answer to some certain ageless philosophical questions such as: What is man? What is his origin? What is his destiny? How is he like other beings in the universe, and how does he differ from them? These have up-till date; remain fundamental questions, which are begging for answers in all human societies. In spite of several attempts from the religious, scientific, cultural and sociological theories to explain the issue of common origin, the problem of racism with all its contradictions persists. This paper is to critically evaluate on one hand, the concept of common human origin, using the various theories to analyse the basis for its justification; on the other hand, examine the issues relating to racism, with the aim of arguing that the meaningfulness or meaninglessness of the universe must start from our understanding of human person and his existence. The philosophical method of conceptual clarification and critical analysis are employed to establish the view that man is the key to the understanding of the whole of reality. Thus, whatever disrespect human dignity regardless of colour, race or sex is to be absolutely rejected.

Keywords

Human, Universe, Racism, Existence, Origin

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Appiah, A. (1996). Race, Culture, Identity: Misunderstood Connections. In A. Appiah, & A. Gutmann (Eds.), Color Conscious (pp. 80-81). Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
[2]	Benton, W. (1980). Encyclopedia Britannica (Vol. 15). London, 258.
[3]	Blum, L. (2002). I’m Not a Racist, But… The Moral Quandary of Race Ithaca. New York: Cornell University Press.
[4]	Guido, B. et al. (2003). Dictionary of Race, Ethnicity and Culture. London: Sage Publications, 242.
[5]	Corlett, A. (1998). Analyzing Racism. Public Affairs Quarterly, 12, 23-50.
[6]	Eloise H. M. (1994). Race and Ethnicity: An Anthropological Perspective Jean Ait Belkhir. Race, Gender & Class Journal, 1, 138.
[7]	Jackson, J. P., & Weidman, N. M. (2005). Race, Racism, and Science: Social Impact and Interaction. New Jersey: Rutgers University Press.
[8]	Kenneth, W. K. (2011). Science, Theology, and Monogenesis. American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly, 85, 218.
[9]	Stephens, L. D. (2000). Science, Race and Religion in the American South. John Bachman and the Charleston Circle of Naturalist (1815-1895). 293.
[10]	Livingstone, D. (1992) The Preadamite Theory and the Marriage of Science and Religion. Transaction of the American Philosophical Society, New Series, 82, 63.
[11]	Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English (1995). New Edition. Pearson Educational Limited Essex.
[12]	Mallon, R. (2006). Race: Normative, Not Metaphysical or Semantic. Ethics, 116, 515-525. http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/500495
[13]	Moore, J. H. (2008). Encyclopedia of Race and Racism (Vol. 2). New York: Macmillan Reference.
[14]	Newman, D. M. (2012). Sociology Exploring the Architecture of Everyday Life (9th ed.). Los Angeles: SAGE, 405.
[15]	Popkin, R. (1999). The Columbia History of Western Philosophy. New York: Columbia University Press, 513.
[16]	Voltaire (1733). The Works of Voltaire (Vol. xix). Philosophical Letters.
[17]	Voltaire (1769). Les Lettres d’ Ameb. Septieme Lettre d’ Ameb.
[18]	Appiah, A. (1996). Race, Culture, Identity: Misunderstood Connections. In A. Appiah, & A. Gutmann (Eds.), Color Conscious (pp. 80-81). Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
[19]	Benton, W. (1980). Encyclopedia Britannica (Vol. 15). London, 258.
[20]	Blum, L. (2002). I’m Not a Racist, But… The Moral Quandary of Race Ithaca. New York: Cornell University Press.
[21]	Guido, B. et al. (2003). Dictionary of Race, Ethnicity and Culture. London: Sage Publications, 242.
[22]	Corlett, A. (1998). Analyzing Racism. Public Affairs Quarterly, 12, 23-50.
[23]	Eloise H. M. (1994). Race and Ethnicity: An Anthropological Perspective Jean Ait Belkhir. Race, Gender & Class Journal, 1, 138.
[24]	Jackson, J. P., & Weidman, N. M. (2005). Race, Racism, and Science: Social Impact and Interaction. New Jersey: Rutgers University Press.
[25]	Kenneth, W. K. (2011). Science, Theology, and Monogenesis. American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly, 85, 218.
[26]	Stephens, L. D. (2000). Science, Race and Religion in the American South. John Bachman and the Charleston Circle of Naturalist (1815-1895). 293.
[27]	Livingstone, D. (1992) The Preadamite Theory and the Marriage of Science and Religion. Transaction of the American Philosophical Society, New Series, 82, 63.
[28]	Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English (1995). New Edition. Pearson Educational Limited Essex.
[29]	Mallon, R. (2006). Race: Normative, Not Metaphysical or Semantic. Ethics, 116, 515-525. http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/500495
[30]	Moore, J. H. (2008). Encyclopedia of Race and Racism (Vol. 2). New York: Macmillan Reference.
[31]	Newman, D. M. (2012). Sociology Exploring the Architecture of Everyday Life (9th ed.). Los Angeles: SAGE, 405.
[32]	Popkin, R. (1999). The Columbia History of Western Philosophy. New York: Columbia University Press, 513.
[33]	Voltaire (1733). The Works of Voltaire (Vol. xix). Philosophical Letters.
[34]	Voltaire (1769). Les Lettres d’ Ameb. Septieme Lettre d’ Ameb.