Abstract
This paper reflects on the dramatic nature of human life as gleaned from Emmanuel Umeh’s conception of life as articulated in his book Innermost Philosophical Reflections on the Human Condition. A careful examination of the human condition reveals that life can be understood as a chain of interconnected actions and events. Yet, in the face of challenges and provocations, people are often quick to declare, “I don’t want drama in my life!” This raises a number of philosophical questions: Can there be a drama-free life? Is life meaningful and eventful without being dramatic? What does it mean to live a dramatic life? Is drama an ontological condition of human existence?
These questions provide the framework for this paper as it explores the dramatic nature of human life through Umeh’s notion of life. To achieve this objective, the paper presents a brief biographical sketch of Emmanuel Umeh, clarifies the concepts of drama and life, and examines Umeh’s philosophical understanding of life. It further establishes the relationship between drama and life by exploring two complementary dimensions: the drama of life and the life of drama. The paper concludes that living a balanced and rationally meaningful life requires, on the one hand, acknowledging and accepting the necessary and inevitable events that lie beyond human control and, on the other hand, exercising rational control over those choices and actions that fall within the sphere of human agency. Such a life is made possible through a proper understanding of the inherently dramatic nature of human existence.
Keywords: Drama, Life, Drama of Life, Life of Drama, Human Condition
Authors:
Adekunle A. Ibrahim PhD
Department of Philosophy
University of Uyo, Uyo
Ikemesit J. Nkanta
Department of Philosophy
University of Uyo, Uyo