The place of humans in African environmental theories: Obligatory anthropoholistic perspective

Chinedu Ifeakor

Abstract


African environmental philosophy has been branded
anthropocentric by Western as well as African scholars. The
extent to which this is true is arguable. This paper looks at
various theories in African environmental ethics in the light of
tracing the place of the human being in them. It argues that
African ontology has a place for the human being in the
environment but these theories failed to give the sense in which
humans have a privileged place in the ecosystem. . Philosophical
analysis will show the weaknesses inherent in some of the
theories put forward by scholars in African environmental ethics.
Obligatory anthropohoilism as a viable African environmental
theory argues that humans hold a privileged place in African
ontology which does not translate to anthropocentrism or holism.
The place of humans therefore is an obligatory place, for it is
humans who are capable of tending, caring and preserving the
ecosystem. The purpose of this care is for the balance of the
holistic ecosystem

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References


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