CULTURE, CRIME, PUNISHMENT AND MORALITY: A PHILOSOPHICAL APRRAISAL OF ANCIENT OKPANAM VALUES

Abstract

The conflict of ideologies, characters, values and personal interest in the human nature necessitated the establishment of laws and punishments founded on moral principles. This paper examines traditional African morality with regards to crime and it’s equivalent punishment vis -a -vis morality in Okpanam world view. The authors examined what constitutes crime in ancient Okpanam, the various types of crimes, as well as the justification for the various punishments meted out to offenders. It was observed that in every society, there are persons prone to committing negative vices such as stealing adultery, incest, murder etc, thus confirming David Hume’s assertion “ that crime and self interest is the original reason for the establishment of laws and justice in the civil society” Using hermeneutics, the paper argued that the traditional Okpanam society had wellstructured traditional values, rules, regulations as well as laws founded on the principles of morality. These societal laws fostered, peace, unity, stability and progress within the traditional Okpanam ancient society. The conjecture of the authors is that traditional Okpanam society had their systems. of fundamental laws and morality. The benefits of this paper cannot be overemphasized because among others, the government, civil societies and the general public will draw immense insight from traditional values of the ancient okpanam people.