THE ESSENCE OF HUMAN EXISTENCE - An Exploration of the Interdependence Concept

The concept of dependence, independence and interdependence has been taken to the extreme to the point that it affects human existence. The extremity has redefined the meaning of human existence, and thereby denied humanity the real essence. In this book, there is an exploration of what those terms (independence, dependence, and interdependence) really mean, and a diagnosis of their impact on human existence. There is also a synthesis of the three and how they bring out the real essence of humanity. The objective of the book is to get humans to rethink the essence of human existence, as we have deviated from this path of human existence. Human beings must return to what will give sanctity to human existence and humanity. This will be an all-encompassing project that requires everyone’s attention and involvement, as we work to arrest the devastating reality of human disengagement that is looming on the horizon or that has started eroding the essence of human existence. There is a need to return to interdependence. The significance of interdependence is also that it cuts across every barrier that we have built because of our quest for independence - (race, color, sex, religion, etc.), no one can fully determine who is the carrier of what completes the other person. Think interdependently, Act interdependently. Independence and dependence are interdependence concealed. Interdependence is dependence and independence revealed. In interdependence, the strong force of both dependence and independence are revealed. Interdependence is a package that defines human existence and brings out the real meaning of life. The concept of interdependence is more appealing from the ideology that every human being has a defect or some defects that he/she cannot correct except by another human, thereby eroding the viability of independence and self-reliance. That means that there is a need to relate to one another which does not mean having a relationship. The distinction between relatedness and relationship is also described in the book. Taking a cue from African culture as a tool for understanding interdependence, there is a brief description of Sawa bona and Ubuntu. Samuel A. Alfa is a trained philosopher, educationist, accountant, and administrator, whose interest has been in what makes living a meaningful experience for every human being. Since his exposure to the phenomenological concept in Philosophy, he has developed interest in researching alternative approaches to the abstract methodological ways of philosophy. He has always observed that there is more to human beings than just the outward observances. Driving this idea further, Dr. Alfa decided to explore the connectedness between human beings and how that connection brings out the essence of human existence. The inherent nature of human beings draws out the commonality that exists among human beings; and that commonality is more evident in the interrelatedness. In the interrelatedness, the commonality is exposed and finds its meaning. In unrelatedness, the commonality is completely lost, and the essence of human existence is thereby lost as well. Dr. Alfa decided to explore the concept of the things that human beings cherish a lot and attempted to add color to it by turning it into a more meaningful experience for human existence. This is the concept of ’Independence’. Does this cherished concept truly exist? What does it really mean? What values does it add to human existence? Do the concepts of interdependence and dependence bring out the true meaning of human existence? These are some of the questions that are