THE PROBLEM OF EVIL IN IGBO-AFRICAN PHILOSOPHIC THOUGHT AN EPISTEMIC APPROACH

Abstract

A brief overview of the historical development of philosophy demonstrates that throughout different time periods, ranging from Ancient to Medieval, Modern, and contemporary eras, the concept of evil has consistently intrigued individuals from various social backgrounds. These inquiries revolve around understanding the origins, causes, purposes, and other aspects related to evil. While this has been the case, the focus of this paper is specifically on how evil is perceived by the average African. Recognizing that the culture of a society profoundly influences the world-view of its members, this paper examines the problem of evil from an Igbo/African perspective. The Igbo people, an ethnic group in Africa, are known for attributing the fundamental sources of their philosophical and social issues to religious contexts. Therefore, in order to objectively analyse the problem of evil within Igbo philosophy, it is necessary to consider its religious dimensions. This paper argues that the Igbo, similar to other African ethnic groups, acknowledge the existence of evil as a societal problem. However, unlike some other groups, the Igbo do not attribute the source of evil to God (Chi-Ukwu), but rather view it as a result of human actions within society or as a punishment from the gods for human disobedience.