The author deserves special encomiums for bringing out this useful treatise on philosophy of unity and providing the reader with an insightful framework wherein love as a supreme unifier of all categories of beings is advocated. The book is timely conceived and it is probably the outcome of the prevailing disunity and crises which has adversely affected humankind across the globe. A need was felt to create mass awareness about the benefits of harmonious relationship, mutual coexistence and utmost respect for all entities as essential for the realization of full human potentiality leading towards the solution to many of the human existential problems.
Michael Eneyo has extensively reviewed relevant ancient literatures, religious texts, and philosophical thoughts and has integrated supportive thematic evidences for suggesting how all the living and nonliving elements in the universe are related. He has also shown how each existent with distinctive and unique characteristics are interconnected with one another by separate unifiers and eventually linked with the ultimate unifier which he has labeled as love. The author has presented a case study of the Efik, an African ethnic group, aboriginal to Southern Nigeria, and has called upon the society to value, sustain and maintain cordial and affectionate relationship with other human and non- human species which is imperative for the happiness of all.
The book has ten chapters. In the first chapter, the conceptual perspective behind the philosophy of unity is elaborates within the broader framework of cosmology/universe.
Citing the work of early scholars and substituting them with examples from our daily lives, Eneyo has elaborated the concept of the universe and the process of unity among all existing entities. He concluded that universe is the coming together of every creature to form a unifying whole. In the second chapter, the concept of unity and kind of unifiers are explained at length. Furthermore, selected and diverse forms of unity that persists between and among different class of beings are elaborated comprehensively. The various problems in the society that is attributed to disunity are spelled out explicitly as well. In the latter parts of the chapter, the author highlights how we may take advantage of the diversity of culture, languages, religions, sports, professions and so forth, to make our global society better and happier. The route to attain this is scholarly enunciated by the author with illustrations and examples.
In the third chapter, ancient philosophers of the mainstream Western tradition, whose reflections on cosmology are apt, occupy the attention of the author. Their diverse articulations regarding the origin of universe, its possible constituents and how different elements come together and unite on one hand but also maintain their uniqueness and identity on the other hand, are assessed. In chapter four the concept, causes and consequences of disunity in the contemporary society are highlighted by the author. In this chapter, the reasons behind uninterrupted disturbance and crisis of different intensity across many countries are visible wherein religion and the issue of disunity are evident with narrations of accusations and counter accusations and incidents of terrorism, destruction of human lives and properties etc, are extensively documented. In this regard, human insensitivity, political interference and bad
governance especially in African societies are identified as some of the potent indicators of disunity responsible for the adverse consequences that are replete.
In the preceding chapter, the concept of opposites was discussed within the holistic framework and how the apparently fragmented things in the universe and their opposites are united, has been explained by the author with logical precision. Chapter five discusses the phenomena of fear and its related challenges in terms of hindrance to inclusive unity. As had been generously acknowledged by many lead scholars connected with the Fearsim and Fearlessness movements, Eneyo is credited to have coined many ingenious concepts which includes: fear territory, faculty of fear, fear conflict, Eschatological fear. In this connection, he has created new vocabularies which may be considered to be included in fearism dictionary. Fear is considered as one of the key factors to disunity and a call is been made that fear ought to be managed more effectively in order to build an inclusive society. Hence, chapter five reveals the authors resolve to tackle the idea of fear as one of the stepping stones toward attaining unity, nationally and globally.
In chapter six, the challenges in attempting to initiate unity within groups, especially when such unity involves contrasting opposites is highlighted. In the chapter that follows, Love is identified as an absolute unifier of all categories of beings. Love is defined here in three different historical dispensations: the amoral, moral and immoral.The significance of the law governing the moral code of conduct in human society is also discussed. In chapter eight, a case study of Efik tribal community has been discussed. Evidence exists that in recent years across the world, individual narrow self-interest has taken precedence, while individuals’ contribution for the benefit of community is almost missing or neglected. Hence, the feeling of love towards others and sense of social cohesiveness have taken the back seat.The case study that highlights the people’s ideology of the ancient African {Efik) community was used as a foil by the author wherein love for others and strength of unity among community members were explicitly visible. To institutionalize the feeling of love therefore, the rules governing unity and societal norms are to be strictly observed by all citizens.
The positive and altruistic values like hospitablity to strangers, kindness, respect and love for others are intrinsically affirmed by all community members.
Preservation and protection of the life of every human being was given paramount importance, while accumulation of money was not considered as real wealth. Money was not given as much importance as the formation of good character and earning of good name which were considered the responsibility, not only of the parents, but of the community at large. The detailed case study presented by the author delineates factors that tend to facilitate elevation of unity; love and overall happiness to all members residing in the community are highlighted. Further, a call is made towards all beings to unite as one and see themselves only as a part that makes up the whole. In other words, every individual is insufficient unless in union with other constituents of the universe. While accepting the premise that human being is a small entity or being in the universe that comprises innumerable living and non-living entities, the focal point of this chapter suggests that whenever one attempts to harm or destroy another, s/he is indirectly working towards his/ her own destruction.
The quotation of Buddha captures the essence of chapter nine where the focus on unity between all fragmented entities existing in the universe is highlighted. The chapter stated very nicely that the human mind is responsible for the creation of distinctions and differences between beings which in real essence is just an illusion. The ecological mismanagement created by human beings because of selfish attitude and false pride of supremacy of her dominance over nature has resulted in ecological crisis. This crisis which has already adversely affected the air, water, land, human health and well-being of all living and non-living entities is excellently presented by the author. From the authors viewpoint, the world is critically ill and desperately in need of cure. Thus, this symptom becomes advisory signals that suggest the need for human beings to work toward restoring and ensuring harmonious relationship with nature to avert nature’s revenge. In other words, ideology of negation and exclusion are to be replaced with the ideology of unity, connectivity and love for all living and nonliving elements in the world. The concept of Nationalism and Internationalism are explained within the framework of unity of all human beings irrespective of the differences in race, color, culture, language or religion. Oneness of all human beings and connectedness with all entities of the universe as a mandate for all is amplified. The last chapter takes insight from ancient philosophical thoughts and the New Testament. A paradigm for a better society is conceived by the author. This paradigm revolves around the notion of love for all entities which is identified as an ultimate unifier. The challenges in the contemporary society like conflicts, war, religious discords, and supremacy of one person or one country over another are explained comprehensively within the supreme constitution of love which is super ordinate to all the other existing laws and conduct is emphasized. By considering love as an ultimate unifier, creation of an ideal society may be visualized where all individuals can be looked beyond own selfish interest and work ceaselessly for the happiness and wellness of all beings. For a healthy and harmonious society to be enthroned, love is the indispensable norm and may be considered the supreme paradigm for unification.
Overall, the book is academically stimulating, interesting and thought-provoking. The author has brilliantly provided a comprehensive theoretical framework of unity where love is the ultimate unifier. All the Chapters are sequentially arranged and cohesively presented, while intricate issues pertaining to unity are analytically explained and comprehensively documented in a scholarly manner. The author has coined a couple of new concepts on fear and has presented some fresh and novel ideas on fearlessness which may give new insights to scholars who are interested in exploring the philosophy of fear. I congratulate Eneyo for creating a philosophical masterpiece were all human beings are to join their hands together to build an ideal society where harmonious relationship with living and non-living entities are to be preserved, protected and sustained.
Professor Dinesh Nagar,
Head of Department of Psychology,
Barkatullah University, Bhopal,
India.