The end of essentialist gods and Ubuntu : a feminist critical investigation
- Mzondi, Abraham Modisa Mkhondo
- Authors: Mzondi, Abraham Modisa Mkhondo
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Feminist theology - Africa , Ubuntu (Philosophy)
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/122018 , uj:20597
- Description: Abstract: Armstrong (1993, 2009), Ferguson (1995) and others have convincingly demonstrated that different people conceptualise different god ideas to suit their diverse socio-cultural contexts. Their work laid the necessary groundwork for this study which juxtaposed god and Ubuntu constructs, affirming the fact that people are natural social constructivists involved in a continuous process of conceptualising ideas (ideologies/theologies) that work for them and give meaning to their contexts. Extending the ongoing construction of new god ideas also to that of Ubuntu, different sets of ideas of Ubuntu were investigated. This proved that this basic idea of African “humanness” similarly becomes concretised within diverse interest groups. Thus the thesis of this study as reflected in its title, “The end of essentialist gods andUbuntu: A feminist critical investigation” was substantiated. Two research methods, one general (social constructivism) and one specific (feminism) were employed to conduct the study. Social constructivism is a theory developed to understand human interactions and consequent ideas. It has two essential elements known as philosophical idealism and philosophical materialism; and culture and context form its basis. Insights of the notion of philosophical idealism were employed to analyse the ideationist constructs of religion (gods) and of Ubuntu. Whereas social-constuctivism served as the broad overarching hermeneutical tool, feminism was used as the specific interpretive framework to critically scrutinise mostly patriarchally biased conceptualisations of god and Ubuntu... , D.Litt. et Phil. (Biblical Studies)
- Full Text:
- Authors: Mzondi, Abraham Modisa Mkhondo
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Feminist theology - Africa , Ubuntu (Philosophy)
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/122018 , uj:20597
- Description: Abstract: Armstrong (1993, 2009), Ferguson (1995) and others have convincingly demonstrated that different people conceptualise different god ideas to suit their diverse socio-cultural contexts. Their work laid the necessary groundwork for this study which juxtaposed god and Ubuntu constructs, affirming the fact that people are natural social constructivists involved in a continuous process of conceptualising ideas (ideologies/theologies) that work for them and give meaning to their contexts. Extending the ongoing construction of new god ideas also to that of Ubuntu, different sets of ideas of Ubuntu were investigated. This proved that this basic idea of African “humanness” similarly becomes concretised within diverse interest groups. Thus the thesis of this study as reflected in its title, “The end of essentialist gods andUbuntu: A feminist critical investigation” was substantiated. Two research methods, one general (social constructivism) and one specific (feminism) were employed to conduct the study. Social constructivism is a theory developed to understand human interactions and consequent ideas. It has two essential elements known as philosophical idealism and philosophical materialism; and culture and context form its basis. Insights of the notion of philosophical idealism were employed to analyse the ideationist constructs of religion (gods) and of Ubuntu. Whereas social-constuctivism served as the broad overarching hermeneutical tool, feminism was used as the specific interpretive framework to critically scrutinise mostly patriarchally biased conceptualisations of god and Ubuntu... , D.Litt. et Phil. (Biblical Studies)
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Talking Ubuntu : toward a relational talk show model
- Authors: Tavernaro-Haidarian, Leyla
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Ubuntu (Philosophy) , Humanism , Ethnoscience
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/241092 , uj:24813
- Description: Abstract: The following research teases out a talk show concept that is based on ‘harmonious and cohesive’ understandings of power and stands in contrast to many mainstream popular talk show formats. The model facilitates participatory discourse and exhibits what I call ‘deliberation culture’ rather than ‘argument culture’. It is based on an analysis of talk shows sampled from South Africa and the United States and builds on the existing literature of ubuntu-based ethics. As such, ‘deliberation culture’ challenges the prevailing approach of current democratic discourses, which pan out as contests of power between inherently conflicting interests and which are riddled with challenges, costs and consequences. In light of these, other non-adversarial approaches to public discourse are worth considering. This requires adopting an alternative realism, which opens a space for discursive inquiry that is participatory, exploratory and effective and the question becomes: how can we reframe public discourses to promote this end? The African philosophy of ubuntu offers valuable insights into this endeavor as it espouses relational notions of power that contrast and complement individualist facets. It provides the space to develop the language and concepts to think and speak in ways that support cooperative societal structures and practices such as ‘deliberation culture’. Deliberation culture rests on the premise that humanity is essentially one and that the various interests of individuals and groups, while diverse and textured, can be conceived of as... , D.Litt. et Phil.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Tavernaro-Haidarian, Leyla
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Ubuntu (Philosophy) , Humanism , Ethnoscience
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/241092 , uj:24813
- Description: Abstract: The following research teases out a talk show concept that is based on ‘harmonious and cohesive’ understandings of power and stands in contrast to many mainstream popular talk show formats. The model facilitates participatory discourse and exhibits what I call ‘deliberation culture’ rather than ‘argument culture’. It is based on an analysis of talk shows sampled from South Africa and the United States and builds on the existing literature of ubuntu-based ethics. As such, ‘deliberation culture’ challenges the prevailing approach of current democratic discourses, which pan out as contests of power between inherently conflicting interests and which are riddled with challenges, costs and consequences. In light of these, other non-adversarial approaches to public discourse are worth considering. This requires adopting an alternative realism, which opens a space for discursive inquiry that is participatory, exploratory and effective and the question becomes: how can we reframe public discourses to promote this end? The African philosophy of ubuntu offers valuable insights into this endeavor as it espouses relational notions of power that contrast and complement individualist facets. It provides the space to develop the language and concepts to think and speak in ways that support cooperative societal structures and practices such as ‘deliberation culture’. Deliberation culture rests on the premise that humanity is essentially one and that the various interests of individuals and groups, while diverse and textured, can be conceived of as... , D.Litt. et Phil.
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