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The Practice of Inheritance in Esan: the Place of the Female Child 49 CULTURA CULTURA INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHILOSOPHY OF CULTURE CULTURA AND AXIOLOGY Founded in 2004, Cultura. International Journal of Philosophy 2011 of Culture and Axiology is a semiannual peer-reviewed jour- 1 2011 Vol VIII No 1 nal devoted to philosophy of culture and the study of value. It aims to promote the exploration of different values and cultural phenomena in regional and international contexts. The editorial board encourages the submission of manuscripts based on original research that are judged to make a novel and important contribution to understanding the values and cultural phenomena in the contemporary world. CULTURE AND AXIOLOGY CULTURE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHILOSOPHY OF JOURNAL OF PHILOSOPHY INTERNATIONAL ISBN 978-3-89975-251-9 CULTURA CULTURA INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHILOSOPHY OF CULTURE CULTURA AND AXIOLOGY Founded in 2004, Cultura. International Journal of Philosophy 2011 of Culture and Axiology is a semiannual peer-reviewed jour- 1 2011 Vol VIII No 1 nal devoted to philosophy of culture and the study of value. It aims to promote the exploration of different values and cultural phenomena in regional and international contexts. The editorial board encourages the submission of manuscripts based on original research that are judged to make a novel and important contribution to understanding the values and cultural phenomena in the contemporary world. CULTURE AND AXIOLOGY CULTURE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHILOSOPHY INTERNATIONAL CULTURA INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHILOSOPHY OF CULTURE AND AXIOLOGY Cultura. International Journal of Philosophy of Culture and Axiology E-ISSN (Online): 2065-5002 (Published online by Versita, Solipska 14A/1, 02-482 Warsaw, Poland) ISSN (Print): 1584-1057 Advisory Board Prof. dr. Mario Perniola, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Italy Prof. dr. Paul Cruysberghs, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium Prof. dr. Michael Jennings, Princeton University, USA Prof. Emeritus dr. Horst Baier, University of Konstanz, Germany Prof. dr. José María Paz Gago, University of Coruña, Spain Prof. dr. Maximiliano E. Korstanje, John F. Kennedy University, Buenos Aires, Argentina Prof. dr. Nic Gianan, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Philippines Prof. dr. Alexandru Boboc, Correspondent member of the Romanian Academy, Romania Prof. dr. Teresa Castelao-Lawless, Grand Valley State University, USA Prof. dr. Richard L. Lanigan, Southern Illinois University, USA Prof. dr. Fernando Cipriani, G.d’Annunzio University Chieti-Pescara, Italy Prof. dr. Elif Cirakman, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey Prof. dr. David Cornberg, University Ming Chuan, Taiwan Prof. dr. Carmen Cozma, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University Iassy, Romania Prof. dr. Nancy Billias, Department of Philosophy, Saint Joseph College, Hartford, USA Prof. dr. Christian Möckel, Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany Prof. dr. Leszek S. Pyra, Pedagogical University of Cracow, Poland Prof. dr. A. L. Samian, National University of Malaysia Prof. dr. Dimitar Sashev, University of Sofia, Bulgaria Prof. dr. Kiymet Selvi, Anadolu University, Istanbul, Turkey Prof. dr. Traian D. Stănciulescu, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University Iassy, Romania Prof. dr. Gloria Vergara, University of Colima, Mexico Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief: Co-Editors: Prof. dr. Nicolae Râmbu Prof. dr. Aldo Marroni Faculty of Philosophy and Social- Facoltà di Scienze Sociali Political Sciences Università degli Studi G. d’Annunzio Alexandru Ioan Cuza University Via dei Vestini, 31, 66100 Chieti B-dul Carol I, nr. 11, 700506 Iasi, Romania Scalo, Italy [email protected] [email protected] Executive Editor: PD Dr. Till Kinzel Dr. Simona Mitroiu Englisches Seminar Human Sciences Research Department Technische Universität Braunschweig, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University Bienroder Weg 80, Lascar Catargi, nr. 54, 700107 Iasi, Romania 38106 Braunschweig, Germany [email protected] [email protected] Editorial Asssitants: Radu Vasile Chialda, Adina Romanescu, Marius Sidoriuc, Daniel Ungureanu Designer: Aritia Poenaru Editorial Office Address: Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Faculty of Philosophy and Social-Political Sciences, The Seminar of Philosophy of Culture and Axiology, Carol I, nr. 11, 700506, Iasi, Romania, Tel.:0040/232/201054; Fax: 0040/232/201154; e-mail: [email protected] Indexing and Abstracting: Thomson Reuters (ISI) – Arts & Humanities Citation Index; EBSCO Humanities International Index; EBSCO Humanities International Complete; SCOPUS (Elsevier); MLA International Bibliography; The International Consortium for the Advancement of Academic Publication (ICAAP); Summon by Serial Solutions; Ulrich’s Periodicals Directory Cultura International Journal of Philosophy of Culture and Axiology Vol. 8, No. 1 (2011) Editor-in-Chief Nicolae Râmbu Bibliografische Information der Deutschen Nationalbibliothek Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek verzeichnet diese Publikation in der Deutschen Nationalbibliografie; detaillierte bibliografische Daten sind im Internet über http://dnb.d-nb.de abrufbar. © 2011 Martin Meidenbauer Verlagsbuchhandlung, München Umschlagabbildung: © Aritia Poenaru Alle Rechte vorbehalten. Dieses Werk einschließlich aller seiner Teile ist urheberrechtlich geschützt. Jede Verwertung außerhalb der Grenzen des Urhebergesetzes ohne schriftliche Zustimmung des Verlages ist unzulässig und strafbar. Das gilt insbesondere für Nachdruck, auch auszugsweise, Reproduktion, Vervielfältigung, Übersetzung, Mikroverfilmung sowie Digitalisierung oder Einspeicherung und Verarbeitung auf Tonträgern und in elektronischen Systemen aller Art. ISBN 978-3-89975-251-9 Verlagsverzeichnis schickt gern: Martin Meidenbauer Verlagsbuchhandlung Schwanthalerstr. 81 D-80336 München www.m-verlag.net CONTENTS DEBATES and DIRECTIONS. AFRICAN STUDIES Anton CARPINSCHI, Bilakani TONYEME Cultural Minorities and Intercultural Dialogue in the Dynamics of Globalization. African Participation 7 Jacob Ale AIGBODIOH Stigmatization in African Communalistic Societies and Habermas’ Theory of Rationality 27 Justina O. EHIAKHAMEN The Practice of Inheritance in Esan: the Place of the Female Child 49 Nicolito A. GIANAN Delving into the Ethical Dimension of Ubuntu Philosophy 63 Uyi-Ekpen OGBEIDE, Lambert Uyi EDIGIN Military Establishments and The Stability Of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic: Toward The Realization Of Vision 2020 83 Elvis IMAFIDON Rethinking the Individual’s Place in an African (Esan) Ontology 93 Francis Xavier GICHURU Creating a New Society, New Nation and New Leadership Quality in Kenya through African Traditional Education Principles 111 Solomon A. LALEYE Democracy in Conflict and Conflicts in Democracy: The Nigerian Experience 127 VIEWS upon ETHICS, TRUTH and LANGUAGE Jim I. UNAH Self-discovery: Who am I? An Ontologized Ethics of Self-mastery 143 Seungbae PARK Defence of Cultural Relativism 159 Simona MODREANU A Different Approach to the “Theater of the Absurd”. With Special Reference to Eugene Ionesco 171 Mario PERNIOLA Impossible, yet real! 187 Simona MITROIU To collect in order to survive: Benjamin and the necessity of collecting 213 Radu Vasile CHIALDA Weak Barbarism 223 10.3726/975251_49 Cultura. International Journal of Philosophy of Culture and Axiology 8(1)/2011: 49–62 The Practice of Inheritance in Esan: the Place of the Female Child Justina O. EHIAKHAMEN Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Arts Ambrose Alli University P. M. B. 14, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria [email protected] Abstract. The act of discrimination against the female sex is an undeniable phenomenon in virtually all human societies, though the severity varies from one society to another. It is against this backdrop that this paper is aimed at exposing the inadequate nature of the primogeniture rule of inheritance towards the female, as practised by the Esan people. The paper tests the validity of the logic on which the disinheritance of females rests, and discovers that it is invalid as it violates such moral principles as the categorical imperative and utilitari- anism, among others. It therefore advocates for possessive right for females for the sake of justice and equity. Keywords: inheritance, Esan, female child, utilitarianism, justice INTRODUCTION The arduous task before African philosophers today is, according to Oladipo (1992: 1), the crisis of relevance. That is, African philosophers should begin to busy themselves with how philosophy can be made effectively relevant to the struggles and destiny of African peoples. It is in acknowledgement of this indisputable fact that this paper is designed to philosophically review the practice of inheritance among the Esan people, particularly the extent to which the female child is affected. Among others, it is aimed at illuminating the idea behind the application of inheritance among the Esan people and outlines its defects in the face of equity and fairness. Suggestions are comparatively made in order for the practice to accommodate contemporary changes. 49 Justina O. EHIAKHAMEN / The Practice of Inheritance THE PRACTICE OF INHERITANCE AMONG THE ESAN PEOPLE In an attempt to fashion a well-ordered society with good human relationships, the Esan people evolved native laws and customs which govern the practice of inheritance. The Esan people are Edo indigenes occupying the central part of Edo State in Nigeria, for whom the issue of inheritance is a highly esteemed socio-cultural heritage. What, then, is inheritance? Inheritance is defined by Black’s Law Dictionary as an estate or property that a man acquires “by descent” and which can be transmitted to
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