Abstract
The contemporary ecological crisis in Nigeria raises important philosophical and ethical questions concerning the relationship between the human person, nature, and the divine. These concerns become more pressing in light of widespread environmental degradation, which calls for a deeper reflection on the meaning of human responsibility within the natural order. Medieval cosmology provides a significant intellectual model for rethinking this relationship. In the medieval understanding of reality, the universe is conceived as a divinely ordered and interconnected whole, in which nature reflects divine wisdom and human beings are entrusted with moral responsibility for its care. This worldview integrates theological reflection, philosophical reasoning, and early scientific observation into a unified interpretation of reality, where all aspects of existence are seen as meaningfully related within a structured order. This paper argues that the medieval synthesis of God, nature, and knowledge offers a valuable philosophical resource for shaping contemporary ecological awareness. It emphasises creation as an intelligible and purposeful order that calls for respect, care, and responsible engagement with the natural environment. Within this perspective, nature is not merely an object of exploitation but a reality imbued with meaning and order, which places ethical demands on human action. In relation to Nigeria’s environmental challenges particularly those associated with resource exploitation and unsustainable land use this study proposes that insights drawn from medieval cosmological thought can contribute to a more integrated ecological ethic. Such an ethic seeks to bring together scientific understanding, moral responsibility, and a sense of spiritual accountability, thereby promoting a more balanced and responsible approach to environmental stewardship.
Authors:
Oyelana, Oluwabori Ayobami
Dominican University, Samonda, Ibadan.
Ohanuma.l@dui.ng
+2348038475842
https://orcid.org/
0009-0002-6465-2182