Simeon Dimonye

This paper critiques Peter Singer’s utilitarian defense of abortion, which hinges on the fetus’s lack of preference capacity, through the lens of African (Igbo) jurisprudence and ethics. Singer’s argument, grounded in self-autonomy and individual freedom, is examined for its cross-cultural applicability and ethical robustness. Engaging with this objective, the study employs philosophical analysis and critical hermeneutics. The study finds Singer’s position deficient in universal applicability, particularly lacking resonance with Igbo (African) legal and ethical traditions. Furthermore, his framework is deemed inadequate for informing inclusive public health policies. This work broadens bioethical discourse by incorporating African legal and ethical perspectives, emphasizing the necessity of cultural integration and social harmony in ethical decision-making. Additionally, it contributes to environmental ethics, supporting Singer’s climate change insights while advocating for a more integrative discourse connecting abortion ethics and environmental concerns. The paper underscores the importance of culturally sensitive bioethics for contextually relevant public health policies.

The study examines the phenomenon of masquerading in Igbo culture. It philosophically explores the cosmology and cultural anthropology of Igbo masquerading, drawing some important implications for which the authors believe they bear on the truth of human existence. It investigates the distortions in and around this Igbo cultural practice against the background of its immanent significance and, thus, attempts to reconstruct it. The paper demonstrates that the huge potential for development inherent in Igbo masquerading outweigh its pitfalls. Igbo masquerading today tends to divide the present generation from the older generation of Igbo. The latter lament that the way masquerading is done nowadays no longer reflects the critical cultural ideals of the people. But, this situation has not been given deserved attention among scholars. The significance of this study, then, lies exactly on its attempt at a theoretical and normative reconstruction of masquerading among the Igbo. The aim of the paper is to critically engage Igbo masquerading with the goal of rescuing it from associated negativities. In the light of the critical Igbo ideals of truth and social justice, the paper proffers the way forward and makes some recommendations. As a philosophical inquiry, the study employs the methods of analysis, prescription and speculation.