Philosophical reflections on globalization and the Nigerian experience

Abstract

This paper examines globalization from the philosophical point of view. It tries to locate the source or origin of globalization based on the philosophical understanding of the subject. Globalization is the integration or the coming together of peoples, races, cultures, institutions, societies, ideas, history, goods and services, science and technology. Philosophy, on its part, is concerned with the critical examination of the origin, nature or essence of beings distinct from their accidental attributes or supposition. Here, we explore the correlation or the relationship between philosophy and globalization and search of how the critical approach of philosophy could help make for a better understanding or appreciation of globalization. We equally examine the various problems associated with globalization based on the philosophical standpoint such as universalism and relativism, freedom and determinism, communitarianism and industrialization, unity and diversity, the one and the many, etc. Finally, the paper considers Nigerias journey through globalization and argues that the country did not have a fair deal in the process since this had involved impositions from outside, and suggests a way out to be for Nigeria to look inwards so as to adopt a globalization appropriate to its environment and situation.