A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE IDEA OF THE ‘IDEAL MAN’ IN CONFUCIAN AND YORUBA THOUGHT
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Abstract
The comparative analysis of Oriental and African thought
is starting to grow. This is not surprising because there are
many similarities as well as interesting differences between
African thought and Oriental thought. One concept which
is worthy of examination is the concept of the ideal or
perfect man. This work sets to compare the idea of the
ideal man or the ‘perfect man’ in Confucianism and in
the Yoruba Thought Systems. The work considers the
educational, historical and sociological factors that lead to
the development of the ideal man. In Confucian thought the
term used is Junzi and in Yoruba thought it is Omoluabi.
This work will consider the similarities and differences
in these cultural approaches. The work also reflects on
how this formation of the ideal man is increasingly less
obtainable in today’s world.
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