PRE-SCIENTIFIC AND SCIENTIFIC THEORIES OF HUMAN DREAM: AN AFRICAN PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVE – International Journal of Social Sciences and Management Review

PRE-SCIENTIFIC AND SCIENTIFIC THEORIES OF HUMAN DREAM: AN AFRICAN PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVE

Author: Wilfred Lajul

ABSTRACT

The concept and attitude towards human dream and what it means, mutates between the pre-scientific and scientific views. The pre-scientific view, basically, believes that dreams are possible channels by which God talks to humans. On the other hand, the scientific view, in general, holds that dreams are purely human psychic activity with no relation whatsoever to divine messages. The question is; what about African philosophical perspectives? This paper hypothesizes that while most African traditional societies embrace the pre-scientific view of dreams, African philosophy is much more complex in regards to the concept of dreams. This is because; African philosophy embraces some elements of the pre-scientific as well as the scientific views. Centrally, African philosophical perspective is based on African ontology, which underscores the ontological relationship between beings. In this ontology, humans are related to God, ancestors, nature, and fellow humans. Dreams can only be understood from this perspective. Thus, African philosophy does not insulate divine interventions from human dreams and as well incorporates human mental consciousness.

Keywords: Pre-scientific, scientific, theories, human dream, African philosophy, perspective

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