ALIENATING THE ‘OWN-NESS’ GRAMMAR: IMPLICATIONS FOR AN IGBO PHILOSOPHICAL WORLD-HOOD

Abstract

Philosophy knows that one of the earliest problems that occupied Aristotle’s quest for the knowledge and the definition of ‘man as man’ was his use-instrumentalism of his ownness language. Aristotle did not search for the definition of the Greek language that was his own-ness language only but rather noted that any given human language stands as his authentic definition and identity. Aristotle therefore defined man as the ‘being that uses language as a tool’ (homo logon ergon). This work therefore is a query on all mankind who use language. The query is: Which language do you use as your instrument/instruments to power your philosophy works that is to ask: Your own-ness language and/or other languages? The little worry of this paper is to establish the fact that every given human language serves as the ‘tool of tools’ in all and for all that is human existential work-encounter in nature and philosophy and as such Igbo language must not be excluded in this mission. This paper pulls up also the Hegelian concept and theory of the ‘Universal Ground’ which is ‘grammar’ as that ‘substratum’ in all and for existing human languages through which every focus, locus, search and research for all that is human knowledge is guaranteed and made possible. Based on the above direction, this paper presents before us all as African/Igbo teachers of philosophy and our teaching engagements with the question: Which language or languages stands/stand for use as our/your instumentum laboris? The answer to the above question will define the philosophical contents, directions and implications on the ‘own-ness language/grammar vis-à-vis the implicit conflicts with the ‘use-gears’ of any colonially imposed language and grammar.