PHILOSOPHICAL EVALUATION OF WALTER RODNEY’S CONCEPT OF DEVELOPMENT

The concept of Development falls under the Anthropological part of Philosophy, but in recent times, it is attracting
scholarly discussions which demands Philosophical evaluation. Taking into consideration, the attributes of
development which includes: ontological, cultural, social and psychological integration, many scholars from different fields of study have contributed, but none has given a convincing link like that of Rodney’s Marxism: where he used historical Materialism to trace economic stages, from primitive stage to Socialism. However, He opened a new mode of intellectual discussion which answers question on the cardinal points of development which are; the consent of oneself, proper integration of personal, and societal endowed potentialities, increase in skills, responsibility and material well being, and restructuring of Superstructures. Tracing development from subsequent ideologies would not determine quick growth of the Underdeveloped, but maintenance of bases that serve as yardsticks for authentic development. Giving a philosophical evaluation to Rodney’s concept of development is the major task of this research with exposition of his Marxist philosophy from which his influence is rooted.

BY SIXTUS MARTINS IBEABUCHI UGWU, A THESIS PRESENTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PHILOSOPHY
IN THE FACULTY OF ARTS, NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY, AWKA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE IN PHILOSOPHY (SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY)