A Comparative Study of Hegel’s Dialectic of Master-Slave Relationship with Child Labour in Nigeria

Abstract

This paper is to establish a correlation between Hegel’s Dialectic of Master-slave and the Child Labour Syndrome in Nigeria. Hegel in his Dialectic of Master-slave Relationship makes the point that this relationship expressed itself in terms of “Domination and servitude” a situation that tends to put the slave at a vantage position over the master in terms of acquisition of skills and mental acumen. This assertion by Hegel can be juxtaposed with the Child Labour Syndrome, where the Labour of the house helps are often maximized to the detriment of their masters’ children. To check this imbalance in children up-bringing, this paper is proposing the reverse of the status of the House Help to that of “Complementary Children” as their roles are meant to complement that of their masters “Biological Children.”

Keywords: Hegel, Dialectic, Master-Slave, Child-Labour, Philosophy  Nigeria.