Journal of Humanities, Education & Social Sciences

Humanities, Education & Social Sciences

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A Critical Analysis of René Descartes’ ‘Meditation One’

Remigius Achinike Obah

The problem of certain and indubitable knowledge has preoccupied Western philosophy from the pre-Socratics through the medieval era to the dawn of modernity. The renaissance era inaugurated a decisive shift from the theocentricism of medieval thinkers to the anthropocentrism of the modern man, generating competing methodological frameworks — the Baconian empirical-inductive and the Galilean mathematical-deductive methods — whose controversy gave rise to a renewed general scepticism. This paper critically examines René Descartes’ ‘Meditation One’, assessing both the philosophical significance and the internal limitations of his method of radical doubt as a response to epistemological scepticism. The study employs philosophical textual analysis and critical exegesis, involving close reading of Descartes’ primary text, contextualisation within the history of epistemology, and systematic evaluation of his arguments against the positions of selected critics. Descartes’ quest for knowledge led him to doubt everything around him. This skepticism formed the foundation of a new theory of knowledge known as rationalism. This foundation was occasioned by the rise of science during the renaissance era. The attempt to place philosophy side by side with science saw the emergence of two methods: the Baconian empirical-inductive and the Galilean mathematical-deductive. The issue of method in the sciences resulted in controversy as to which is the correct method. It is out of these controversies and general scepticism that René Descartes emerged to search for certain and indubitable knowledge. Despite the fact that Descartes, through his doubt, gave philosophy a new method and solid foundation, he is found wanting in some of his postulations. This study concludes that, despite the loopholes inherent in his arguments, Descartes made a significant contribution to epistemology. This work challenges the extremity of his method and maintains that once one begins to doubt things thoroughly, one will never again be able to argue one’s way back to certainty.

Apr 10, 2026 Read →

Berkeley's Empiricism and the Concept of God: A Defence Of Theism

Wisdom Tonye Gibson

George Berkeley (1685–1753), Irish philosopher and Anglican bishop, occupies a singular and philosophically productive position within the empiricist tradition. Where Locke retained a mind-independent material substratum beneath sensible qualities and Hume systematically dissolved the metaphysical commitments of empiricism into scepticism, Berkeley developed a radical but internally disciplined alternative: the doctrine of immaterialism, or subjective idealism, according to which the existence of sensible things consists entirely in their being perceived. This paper argues that this doctrine is not incidentally but structurally theistic. It demonstrates that Berkeley's argument proceeds through four logically connected stages: first, the conceivability argument, which establishes that the concept of mind-independent matter is not merely unobserved but strictly inconceivable; second, the esse est percipi principle, which establishes that to be is to be perceived; third, the continuity argument, which demonstrates that the continuous existence of sensible objects under the esse est percipi principle requires an infinite, omnipresent perceiver; and fourth, the argument from the order and regularity of experience to a rational, volitional cause. The paper further argues that Berkeley's idea/notion distinction, when properly reconstructed, resolves — or at least substantially defuses — the principal objection that spiritual substance is no better supported than material substance. Principal objections to Berkeley's system are examined and assessed, with the conclusion that while his immaterialism faces genuine difficulties, these difficulties do not undermine the structural theological argument it generates. Berkeley's defence of theism, this paper contends, constitutes a philosophically serious contribution to natural theology, grounded in the internal logic of empiricist epistemology rather than in theological presupposition.

Apr 10, 2026 Read →

Flooding and Livelihoods in Rural Households in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria.

ODUBO, Tonbra Robert, FRANK, Vivian Nannie

The issue of flooding has been alarming over the years, and in recent times, its impact on human activities has been more severe. This study examined flooding and livelihoods in rural households in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State. The study employed a cross-sectional survey research design. The theoretical framework was the systems theory. It relates the physical environmental problem of flooding and its impact on humans. With a sample size of 400, data were collected using both primary and secondary sources. The primary source was a structured questionnaire, while the secondary sources were textbooks, journals, periodicals, etc. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages. The findings of the study show that flooding is a perennial problem in the study area. The devastating effects of flooding have caused environmental degradation and the destruction of traditional livelihoods. The study also established that the livelihood of those mostly affected are farmers and fishers due to the destruction of farmlands, pollution of river waters and destruction of forest resources by flood, leading to a decline in agricultural production, scarcity of some crops, poverty and migration. The study, amongst others, recommended that the government and necessary agencies should provide adequate camps (IDP camps), with adequate facilities for the victims whose houses are submerged by flood, till the flood recedes. The government should also give compensation, grants or financial assistance to enable the victims to cope after the flood, due to the destruction of their means of livelihood.

Apr 10, 2026 Read →

Ritual, Gender, And Custom: Re-Examining the Iria Ceremony in the Historical Development Of Opobo and Kalabari

Oko-Jaja, Eze Tuonimi, Jaja, Ethel Kalanne, Omiete Idoniboye

This research re-examines the Iria ceremony within the historical trajectories of Opobo and Kalabari, presenting ritual, gender, and custom as dynamic forces in socio-political development. Drawing on oral traditions, archival materials, and qualitative historical analysis, the study argues that Iria is not merely a rite of passage but a gendered institution embedded in the cosmological and social organization of Eastern Niger Delta societies. Following Victor Turner’s concept of ritual as “social drama,” Iria emerges as a performative arena where feminine identity, lineage continuity, and communal prestige are publicly constructed. Tracing its origins in the Ijo cultural sphere and its adaptation within Opobo’s monarchical structure, the study demonstrates how Iria has mediated intergroup relations while reinforcing elite authority. At the same time, it has provided women with collective organization, visibility, and symbolic power. Engaging Judith Butler’s theory that gender is constituted through repeated performance, the research interprets Iria as a culturally sanctioned script that stabilizes yet gradually reshapes gender norms. Although modernity, commercialization, and class display have transformed aspects of the ritual, these shifts represent historical negotiation rather than cultural erosion. By comparing developments in Opobo and Kalabari, the study shows how ritual institutions remain resilient, sustaining identity, fostering female agency, and generating economic activity. Ultimately, Iria functions as a living archive of gender memory and a lens for understanding continuity and change in the Niger Delta.

Apr 10, 2026 Read →

Baron De Montesquieu's Doctrine of Separation of Powers and the Independence of the Judiciary in Nigeria

Sotonye Big-Alabo, Moses N. Omah

This study examines the independence of the judicial arm in Nigeria's current democratic engagement, using Montesquieu's doctrine of separation of powers as a theoretical framework. The existing literature on judicial independence in Nigeria tends to focus on constitutional provisions without sufficiently applying Montesquieu's tripartite framework as a diagnostic lens; this paper addresses that gap. Employing the hermeneutic method — specifically a Gadamerian interpretive approach — to analyse Montesquieu's The Spirit of the Laws (1748) as the primary text, the analysis reveals that, despite the constitutional provisions for an independent judiciary, political interference and inadequate funding, among other factors, make it difficult for the judiciary to operate freely as anticipated. This compromises the impartiality of the judicial arm of government, threatening the dispensation of justice, the rule of law and, consequently, undermining the democratic process. The paper aims to critically assess the independence of the judicial arm of government in Nigeria by applying Baron de Montesquieu's doctrine of separation of powers. The study highlights the importance of an independent judiciary and the need to prevent the abuse of power, thus promoting democratic governance. The study recommends adherence to the doctrine of separation of powers, adequate funding for the judiciary, and unbiased and uninterrupted checks and balances among the three arms, to ensure effective governance.

Apr 10, 2026 Read →

Logic, Agency, and Practice: A Review of Recent Scholarship on Kantian Ethics

Tamunosiki Markson

Critiques contend that Kant’s Categorical Imperative amounts to “empty formalism”, a system devoid of content that proves insufficient for navigating the practical contingencies of moral life. However, recent scholarship suggests that Kant’s ideas remain relevant and should not yet be dismissed. Scholars vigorously argue that his theory remains a sturdy, necessary scaffolding for modern ethics. This review examines that literature to assess how the theory holds up across three specific areas: logic, agency, and practice. First, the theoretical foundation is examined to address the debate about a logical gap in Kant’s derivation. The argument here is that the moral law is not derived arbitrarily; it is derived a priori as a necessary condition of freedom, meaning practical reason comes pre-loaded with ideals that naturally orient us toward universalisability. Next, the focus shifts to the moral agent. Contemporary scholars are reframing ethics less as rigid commandments and more as a project of “practical identity” and “moral perfection”, where duty is experienced as inner restraint or a “feeling of respect”. Finally, these formulas are tested against real-world issues including technology, historical racism, and public policy. Ultimately, the suggestion is that the Categorical Imperative is not an obsolete philosophical relic; it is a living analytical tool that protects human dignity from the excesses of utilitarianism and the corrosive effects of modern moral relativism.

Apr 10, 2026 Read →

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