PHILOSOPHY AS A HANDMAID OF THEOLOGY: A CRITICAL EXAMINATION

Résumé

This paper examines the relationship and the important part philosophy plays in theology. Theology depends to a large extent on the philosophy of the people. This paper looks at the concept of philosophy, the concept of theology and the implication of philosophy in the development of theology. It therefore proposes that philosophy and theology are twin brotherhood – one cannot exist in isolation; each enables the other, taken together it makes a whole word of sense. The paper equally noted that though philosophy may be regarded as the handmaid of theology, yet, being a handmaid does not imply that philosophy is inferior or simply a mere servant to theology. After all, the two need each other in order to serve humanity properly. This study adopts a conceptual clarification of our discourse and engages in an analytic and critical appraisal of the subject matter.