This dissertation primarily aims at making contribution to the advancement of philosophy from the practical point of view. It does so by analytically and critically studying H. Odera Oruka (1944-1995), arguably one of the finest 20th century African philosophers. Thus, it identifies, expounds, and critiques Oruka’s philosophical cum ethical commitment by situating him within various philosophical discourses touching such important global issues as justice, human rights, ethical duty, ecology, humanism and politics. It specifically advances Oruka’s argument for the right to a human minimum, establishing how that ethical principle can be applicable in addressing some distressing human conditions such as inequality, poverty, in-humanness and ecological degradation. It also attempts to borrow and apply some ethical value-systems or philosophies from Africa – such as ubuntu (or humanness) - so as to clarify and philosophically defend the possibility of ensuring the practice of justice at the global level.
","abstract_html":"<p>This dissertation primarily aims at making contribution to the advancement of philosophy from the practical point of view. It does so by analytically and critically studying H. Odera Oruka (1944-1995), arguably one of the finest 20<sup>th</sup> century African philosophers. Thus, it identifies, expounds, and critiques Oruka’s philosophical cum ethical commitment by situating him within various philosophical discourses touching such important global issues as justice, human rights, ethical duty, ecology, humanism and politics. It specifically advances Oruka’s argument for <em>the right to a human minimum</em>, establishing how that ethical principle can be applicable in addressing some distressing human conditions such as inequality, poverty, in-humanness and ecological degradation. It also attempts to borrow and apply some ethical value-systems or philosophies from Africa – such as <em>ubuntu</em> (or humanness) - so as to clarify and philosophically defend the possibility of ensuring the practice of justice at the global level.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Mburu, Michael Kamau"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"PhD","degree_level":"One-year Embargo","degree_discipline":"Philosophy","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Ronald Polansky","Jay Lampert","Brian Cronin"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2018,"date_issued":"2018-05-11T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2018-05-11T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:09:34Z","subjects":["Odera Oruka","philosophic sagacity","human rights","global ethical duty","human minimum","eco-philosophy","global justice","parental earth ethics","Ubuntu (humanness).","Arts and Humanities","Ethics and Political Philosophy","Philosophy"],"languages":["English"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/1450","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Ronald Polansky","Jay Lampert","Brian Cronin"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Mburu, Michael Kamau"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2022-01-15T08:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Philosophy"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["One-year Embargo"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["PhD"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Odera Oruka","philosophic sagacity","human rights","global ethical duty","human minimum","eco-philosophy","global justice","parental earth ethics","Ubuntu (humanness).","Arts and Humanities","Ethics and Political Philosophy","Philosophy"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["English"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/1450"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This dissertation primarily aims at making contribution to the advancement of philosophy from the practical point of view. It does so by analytically and critically studying H. Odera Oruka (1944-1995), arguably one of the finest 20th century African philosophers. Thus, it identifies, expounds, and critiques Oruka’s philosophical cum ethical commitment by situating him within various philosophical discourses touching such important global issues as justice, human rights, ethical duty, ecology, humanism and politics. It specifically advances Oruka’s argument for the right to a human minimum, establishing how that ethical principle can be applicable in addressing some distressing human conditions such as inequality, poverty, in-humanness and ecological degradation. It also attempts to borrow and apply some ethical value-systems or philosophies from Africa – such as ubuntu (or humanness) - so as to clarify and philosophically defend the possibility of ensuring the practice of justice at the global level.
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