Niger Delta Journal of Philosophy & African Values logo

Niger Delta Journal of Philosophy & African Values

Published by Department of Philosophy, Niger Delta University
Submit Article

The Problem with Quantification: An Existential Perspective on the Limits of Numerical Representation

Pages 1-22
DOI: 10.66286/sej7owa2
ORCID iD ORCID: 0000-0002-4470-7046 (Corresponding Author)
Keywords: Quantification Human Experience Authenticity Existentialism Phenomenology Measurement

Abstract

Quantification has driven the advancement of civilisation and facilitated significant progress in science, engineering, and the humanities. Despite its widespread success, quantification now presents a philosophical challenge: can the use of numbers or measurements to describe phenomena adequately address the complexity of human existence? Existential critique maintains that quantification, while effective for observable phenomena, does not capture qualities such as authenticity, consciousness, freedom, and intrinsic value. These dimensions are rooted in individual and subjective experience. Efforts to quantify these aspects result in a category error, reducing unique human experiences to objects, distorting meaning, and fostering alienation. Furthermore, quantification reduces ethical responsibility to numerical terms, thereby diminishing the moral and personal dimensions of experience. This paper draws on existentialist thinkers (Sartre, Heidegger, Camus) and phenomenologists (Husserl, Merleau-Ponty) to propose an ethics of quantification that explicitly recognises the limits of measurement and prioritises existential understanding. The strengths and limitations of quantification, including its contributions to social progress and science, are critically examined. Ultimately, recognising the boundaries of quantification is argued to be essential for preserving meaningful human understanding.

How to Cite

Ekperi, M. D. (2026). The Problem with Quantification: An Existential Perspective on the Limits of Numerical Representation. Niger Delta Journal of Philosophy & African Values, 1(1), 1-22. https://doi.org/10.66286/sej7owa2

License and Reuse

License: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

This article is published under a Creative Commons license. You are free to share this work with proper attribution. For detailed licensing terms and reuse rights, please see our License Terms page.

This is an open access article distributed under the terms of our Open Access Policy.

240 views | 69 downloads
Download PDF

Related Articles

This paper undertakes an ethno-philosophical analysis of the soul (‘teme’) as conceived within the Kalabari Ijaw worldview of the Niger Delta, Nigeria. Despite the richness of Kalabari metaphysical thought, it remains largely absent from mainstream comparative philosophy. This study addresses that gap by positioning the Kalabari conception of the soul alongside the Western philosophical tradition, with particular attention to Plato's account in the Phaedo. Within the Kalabari framework, the body (‘oju’) functions as the vessel of the soul, while the soul itself transcends physical death and begins a new phase of existence. Death is therefore not an end but a transitional point within a periodic system of being, orientated towards ancestral return and cyclical continuity. Whereas Plato's theory was developed through abstract reasoning and individual intuition, the Kalabari Ijaw understanding emerges from collective wisdom, ritual practice, and communal acceptance. This contrast reveals differing epistemic foundations: one rooted in rational deduction, the other in shared cultural experience. The paper argues that the Kalabari conception offers a philosophically coherent and distinctive contribution to metaphysical discourse — one that affirms the immortality of the soul while grounding human existence in embodied, divinely ordained destiny. By examining these perspectives side by side, the study emphasises the philosophical significance of indigenous African thought and its rightful place in broader debates about the nature of the soul and the meaning of human mortality.

Read Abstract →

Corporate begging, commonly known as \textit{fine-bara}, is a socio-economic phenomenon that carries significant consequences for individuals and the wider community in the Kaduna Central Senatorial Zone. This study employs a mixed-method approach, utilising quantitative data gathered via questionnaires administered to 537 respondents and qualitative insights obtained through in-depth interviews (IDIs), key informant interviews (KIIs), and case studies. Grounded in Anomie-Strain theory, Differential Association theory, and the Broken Window theory, the study investigates the consequences of corporate begging within the region. Findings reveal that corporate begging produces both positive and negative consequences, with the negative consequences far outweighing the positive ones. Insecurity emerges as the most prominent negative consequence, as corporate beggars have been linked to criminal activities including kidnapping, theft, and sexual harassment. Environmental nuisance, overdependence, poverty, and accidents also constitute notable negative outcomes. On the positive side, respondents acknowledged that corporate begging fulfils religious obligations for givers, potentially reduces criminal tendencies among beggars, and provides intelligence information to security operatives. The study underscores the urgent need for targeted policy interventions to combat corporate begging in the Kaduna Central Senatorial Zone, as no established policies currently exist to address the phenomenon effectively.

Read Abstract →
Skip to main content