Genuine Intellectuals. Academic and Social Responsibilities of Universities in Africa: Academic and Social Responsibilities of Universities in Africa

Chapter Six - Philosophy: A Categorical Imperative

71 Genuine Intellectuals: Academic and Social Responsibilities of Universities in Africa Chapter Six Philosophy: A Categorical Imperative I set out to show that University Studies, if they are to be worthy of the name, must be scientific and philosophical. Thus far, I have striven to demonstrate how such studies can be rendered scientific. I now turn to the second part of this treatise, namely, that for University Studies to merit their dignity and prestige, they must also be philosophical. But to do this, there is no other approach more logical than to begin by saying, clearly, what I mean by philosophy. For here I am entering a field rank with division and debate. Instead of giving a cut-and – dried, ready-made definition, I propose to lead the reader up to my idea of Philosophy through a classification of the main sciences – a classification based on the relative wideness of the portion of the universe covered by each of these. In general, all the sciences deal with the physical universe. But each science differs from the rest according to the particular aspect of the universe that it treats. A science which covers only the living world is narrower in scope than a science which covers both the living and the non-living world. A science which deals with only one species of the properties of the Universe is narrower in scope than a science which deals with a range of properties wider and related. Furthermore, each science of narrower scope falls within the sphere of every other science of wider scope; each science of narrower scope has its roots in, and presupposes, the sciences of wider scope. 72 Bernard Nsokika Fonlon In our classification of the sciences, from the narrower to the wider, let us begin with Biology. Biology is the science which concerns itself with that portion of the universe that is endowed with life, or what is more commonly referred to as the living world, the world of living organisms. Chemistry, on the other hand, is the science which deals with the composition of complex material substances from simpler physical elements; or, inverse-ly, with the decomposition of composite bodies into their diverse component elements. These building-up, these breakingdown , processes take place both in the animate and the inanimate world. It follows, therefore, evidently, that the field covered by Chemistry is wider than, and englobes, that covered by Biology. It follows, furthermore, that a prior and thorougher knowledge of Chemistry would give to the student a profounder knowledge of Biology; since, as I have said, Chemistry includes Biology and Biology presupposes Chemistry. Next we come to Physics. Physics is the science which deals with Change and Motion in the material world; it concerns itself with that singular property of the physical universe without which no change or motion, whatsoever, is possible. This all important element, this indispensable property, is Energy. Physics deals with the various sources and the various manifestations of energy in the world. Heat is one. Light is another. Sound is one. Electricity is another, Magnetism is one. So also is Nuclear Energy. In like manner, chemical composition or decomposition is but one manifestation of Energy at work in the world. Indeed, without some of the forms of Energy, like heat and electricity, for instance, no chemical composition or decomposition is possible. Even life itself is a manifestation of change and motion and energy in the universe. It follows logically then that the field of Physics is far wider than, and encircles, that of Chemistry and Biology. 73 Genuine Intellectuals: Academic and Social Responsibilities of Universities in Africa ItfollowsaslogicallythataprioranddeeperstudyofPhysics will render deeper still the mind’s grasp of Chemistry and Biology; for it will lay bare the root and fundamental causes without which no Chemical or Biological process is possible. The next science, with regard to extent of scope is Mathematics. Mathematics: concerns itself with all that has extension – extension in space, extension in .time; however infinitesimal, however enormous in magnitude, that extension may be. It deals with quantity, both when that quantity is in a state of motion, and when it is in a state or rest or inertia. It is the science of all that is capable of measurement – quantity, animate or inanimate, with all its properties like size, volume, weight, composition, activity; it concerns itself with energy in all its manifestations; with space; with speed. Mathematics, of all the physical...