Scholarly Works
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://repository.ui.edu.ng/handle/123456789/363
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Item Orı́ and neuroscience: a ontextualization of the Yoruba idea of causality in the age of modern science(2018-11) Gbadamosi, O. A.This paper examines the submission of neuroscience on freewill within the religious and cultural contexts of the Yoruba in South-western Nigeria. The findings of neuroscience are juxtaposed with the concept of Orı́, with a view to finding how these scientific and religio-cultural lines of determinism can be compatible with the concept of freedom today. The study adopts the hylomorphic theory of Bolaji Idowu, which posits that woman is ara (body) plus ẹ̀mı́ (spirit).Item Divine foreknowledge, human freedom, and the burden of prophecty to contingent future events: implications for contemporary Nigeria(Zenith BookHouse Ltd., Ibadan, 2018) Gbadamosi, O. A.Questions on human freedom have been a subject of debate in the history of philosophy. Divine foreknowledge of events poses a great challenge to human freedom. Prophecy, usually, is a means of expressing God's mind on a particular person, group of people or a particular event. This paper discusses the subject of divine foreknowledge and human freedom, with a focus on the burden which prophecy creates for contingent future events. It is easy to accept that once a prophecy is made, it is final and nothing can be done again on the issue. This is in line with fatalism. This paper seeks to analyse the position that suggests that prophecy indicates inevitability of issues. This is with a view to correcting this notion because regardless of what has been revealed, humans are still responsible for their actions. This means that prophecies are somewhat open, regardless of the fact that they are divinely inspired. The study adopts the Open Theory of William Hasker on prophecy and contingent future events.Item A re-visit to the concept of freewill and ideas of causality in Yoruba religion(Ibadan University Press Publishing House, University of Ibadan Ibadan, Nigeria, 2016) Gbadamosi, O. A.The issue of human will has been a subject of much debate in the history of philosophy and within religious circles over the Centuries. This paper examines the subject of freewill and ideas of causality in the indigenous religion of the Yoruba. Ideas of causality feature prominently in the belief Systems of Yoruba religion expressed in the concepts of Ori, Irawo, Ipin, Ogo, Kadara, Akunlegba, Akunleyan and Ayanmo and other similar ideas revolving around determinism. These ideas of causality lead to a hasty conclusion in most cases that freewill does not exist among the Yoruba. Insisting that there is no freewill has serious implications within a practical milieu especially because of individual responsibility for actions. This paper is a departure from the notion that there is no freewill among the Yoruba. This is done by discussing the meaning of freewill with a view to finding a definition suitable in the Yoruba religious contexts which is clearly different from the Western idea of freewill. This paper also discusses how the concept of freewill and issues related to determinism feature in Yoruba beliefs. This paper employs the Compatibilism theory, the current name for William James’ “soft" determinism, which is the logically contradictory notion that free will is compatible with determinism. This is done with a view to drawing the conclusion that freewill exists among the Yoruba in spite of the established ideas of causality.