EUPRAXOPHIC PERSPECTIVES ON RELIGION ANDTHE PARANORMALS: Towards a New Humanist Theory

AUTHOR
Ejikemeuwa J. O. NDUBISI

First Published in 2023

Published by Altograde Publishers, Yola, Nigeria.

COPYRIGHT © 2023 Ejikemeuwa J. O. Ndubisi

ISBN: 978-978-780-727-9

FOREWORD

In The Meaning of Human Existence, Edward Osborne Wilson is reported to have attempted answers to the puzzles of human existence namely, who am I? what should I do in life? What is the meaning of life? These interrogatives which have situated the human species on an evolutionary continuum have not been fully answered by humans from time immemorial. Argued pointedly, Osborne acknowledged the fact that science latterly established the origins of Homo sapiens and the ultimate insignificance of the species in the universe though, humans still remained beholden to primitive survival impulses that lacked utility in contemporary society, leading to religious and tribal conflicts.

On account of this logic, we may suppose an incipient that evolution enabled by further scientific inquiry would grant humanity a more fulsome understanding of itself on a cosmic scale. Scientific and grounding as the Osborne position is, it is but only one chapter of the commentary on the Philosophy of Man. This explains why the human mind conceptualizes and reflects on issues from the within and without itself all in an effort to pierce the veil of life to access the nature, sources and limits of human knowledge. While such advances in the history of epistemic research have improved the nature of human knowledge, fundamental challenges on many vexed questions of life in the areas of religion and the mysteries of the universe have remained unbounded and far from complete. It is this informed presupposition that has ignited the curiosity of the author in this book to interrogate thus; has/can human intelligence avail the limit of knowledge; will man ever be able to provide all the answers to all puzzles? Similar intellectual preoccupations have occupied the rational mind of the American linguist and philosopher Noam Chomsky to conclude that humans alone have unlimited cognitive powers that set them apart from all other animals. This is truly the mind-set of the author of the book, Eupraxophic Perspectives on Religion and the Paranormals: Towards a New Humanist Theory in his attempt to ask questions and question answers on the vexed issue of whether humanity is fully equipped to think about the mysteries of nature in the secular age that has confronted human beings.

Detailed in twelve chapters, Philosopher Ejikemeuwa Ndubisi has explored in this book, a new approach to understanding the fundamental challenging questions of life namely, in the absence of religion, how do thoughtful contemporary individuals find meaning in a secular world? Making use of Kurtz's new philosophy, eupraxsophy, from three ancient Greek roots, which literally means good practical and wisdom. The author interrogates the philosophy, science, and ethics that provide a secular moral vision, which respects the place of human values in the context of the natural world. He however argues on the contrary that, the new secular philosophy, eupraxsophy, so propagated by Kurtz has so far offered no compelling secular narratives to replace the traditional religious conceptions of the universe so entrenched in civilization.

Taken together, the author's central issue of discourse in this book is on understanding the puzzles of life based on our knowledge and faith claims. While religion makes claim to knowledge with reference to a supernatural being or a deity, the paranormals try to interpret the puzzles of life beyond the range of normal experience or scientific explanation. Religion and the paranormals tend to go beyond nature in their quest to understand nature.

In what can be called mysterian argument, the author asserts in series of arguments that humanity suffers from “cognitive closure” with respect to certain problems and that some of the puzzles that lay bare before the human mind are closed off from some of the world's wonders and believes. This suggests why philosophical conundrums such as the mind/body problem prove to be intractable to the human mind. Engaging in a critical appraisal of Paul Kurtz's Eupraxophy, this author has in this work, critically examines the humanist philosophy which characterizes a secular orientation to life that stands in contrast to religion, the good and wellbeing of the human person from the point of view of the natural light of reason. According to the author, there are basically two principles that characterize Kurtz's Humanist Philosophy namely, the rejection of any supernatural interpretation of the universe and a denial that the human person has a privileged place within nature. This book pontificates that every claim to knowledge must be empirically justified for it to be accepted as a true knowledge. As a justification of this strand of philosophy, Ejikemeuwa raised and answered some fundamental questions thus; how reliable are the claims of religion and the paranormals? Can the claims of religion and the paranormals be rationally and objectively demonstrated? Is there any basis for religious and paranormal beliefs? To what extent can we say that the claims of religion and the paranormals are meaningful or meaningless? Do religion and the paranormals have anything to add to human knowledge? The argued position of the author here is that, since humanism in general is all about the good of the human person, accepting and practicing the culture of critical-inquiry-before-belief will certainly help to bring about growth and development very close to our society.

The author thus submits in this book that, it is only the proper application of reason that can help the human person to understand the mysteries of life and be able to solve human problems, be they of social, economic, political and health implications. Discerning heavily from philosophy, science, and ethics, the book provides a thoroughly secular moral vision, which respects the place of human values in the context of the natural world and presents an empirically responsible yet hopeful picture of the human situation and the cosmos in which we abide.

These existential traditions have informed the author's strides in unraveling the fundamental locus of why man exists, what he lives for and the ultimate goal and purpose of his existence. To the credit of the author, this book has been added to the shelves of humanist scholars and students of philosophy of Religion alike. The Philosophical mastery of this author with his historical sweep, anecdotal delight with broad conceptual vision and command of sources with creative leaps has earned this book a place in the area of philosophical thinking about Religion. Couched in the highest philosophical tradition, this masterful synthesis produces a deeper understanding of not only the human condition but the puzzles of everyday challenges that can provoke an existential crisis. This explosive and incisive book exposes eupraxsophy as a brand of humanism that moves above and beyond the current "new atheism and has successfully bridged the cultural divide between science and value and provides a genuine and constructive alternative to religion.

As the president of the Association of Philosophy Professionals of Nigeria (APPON), I am particularly delighted to be associated with this most lucid and authoritative summary of the nature of human existence and ideas. Written with eloquence and scope, the book has succeeded in brilliantly making Kurtz's brand of humanism sufficiently comprehensible. Professor Ejikemeuwa Ndubisi's narrative in this book has no doubt placed the concept of eupraxsophy in historical perspective, it has shown its critical relevance and importance in contemporary times. Those who want to engage in rigorous philosophical thinking about religion and the unanswered questions of the universe should read this book. Those who want to understand the secular moral vision and the place of human values in the context of the natural world that bridges the cultural divide between science and value should read this book. For the atheists, the contents of this book will surely provide a genuine and constructive alternative to religion and invigorate contemporary studies in the philosophy of Man. We at the Association of Philosophy Professionals of Nigeria are excited with this novel area of philosophical research and studies. It is therefore highly recommended to philosophers and non-philosophers alike.

Alloy S. Ihuah, PhD
Professor of Philosophy,
Benue State University, Makurdi – Nigeria.
President, Association of Philosophy Professionals of Nigeria (APPON).
15th June, 2023

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