A Nigerian university don has advocated the use of New Humanism that anchors on such human values as truth, goodness, love and respect as panacea for conflicts, inter-ethnic and inter-religious conflicts facing the Nigerian society.
Udo Etuk, a retired professor of Philosophy, University of Uyo while delivering a public lecture Sunday at Centre for Leadership Development and Conflict Resolution, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, said this new philosophy is imbued with human values and appreciates the worship of God who created the universe and all therein.
Etuk, who presented a lecture, entitled The New Humanism: The Basis of the Universal Brotherhood and the Panacea for Inter-Ethnic and Inter-Religious Conflicts, also advocated rational engagement with facts of the situations rather than being guided by blind sentiments and irrational passion serving the interest of other people.
The don descried the abduction of school children by Boko Haram insurgents and clashes between farmers and suspected Fulani herdsmen resulting in wanton killings and destruction of property, suggesting the use of New Humanism to nip such conflicts in the bud.
“The cattle rearers need the food produced by the farmers just as the farmers need the meat and milk produced by the cattle rearers. Normal human reason would dictate to members of both communities that their living in peace and carrying out their businesses in peace would be to the best interest of their communities,” he submitted.
Etuk hailed New Humanism for advocating that science and technology must be given human face, saying instead of uncontrolled human greed displaying itself in irresponsible exploitation of nature, man’s only hope lies in maintaining an attitude of respect and appreciation of nature.
Describing New Humanism as a systematic philosophy of life and a philosophy for life, he said it could not ignore the sphere in which man’s life is lived- his environment.
The professor noted “The new Humanism, as the philosophy for an age threatened with environmental pollution of massive proportions and eminent ecological disaster from the global warming is very cautious about man’s much-vaunted ‘conquest of Nature.
“It advocates that man ought to treat nature with greater respect, take from it what he needs to sustain his life and conserve the rest for future generations.
For man to brag about his conquest of nature is a mark either of his gross ignorance or of his excessive arrogance.”
According to him, “The New Humanism as a systematic philosophy suggests everything in human life, thoughts and aspirations under it.
“Unlike the 20th century Western Humanism which is atheistic and materialistic, the New Humanism boldly acknowledges God as the creator of Heaven and earth and all that are in them.”
Earlier, Emmanuel Akpanobong, the Director-General of the centre had lamented that the centre for a long time went into a lull, but promised that participants would use the monthly lectures in finding solutions to leadership problems and resolve conflicts afflicting the society.
Akpanobong who is also a medical doctor invited many people to always attend monthly lectures at the centre to benefit from intellectually stimulating lectures, and thanked the guest speaker for honouring their invitation.
