Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to examine the nature and mechanism of the impact of world views (ideologies, broadly speaking) on the development of society generally, with particular reference to Sub-Saharan Africa and Nigeria. It has been recognized long ago that the materialistic interpretation of society (that sees the value-base of a society – that is, its philosophical value system – as a creation of the material base of society) is erroneous. Today, many scholars will agree that the relationship between the value base and the material base of society is dialectical.