A Discourse on African Philosophy

A New Perspective on Ubuntu and Transitional Justice in South Africa

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Political
Cover of the book A Discourse on African Philosophy by Christian B. N. Gade, Lexington Books
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Christian B. N. Gade ISBN: 9781498512268
Publisher: Lexington Books Publication: April 18, 2017
Imprint: Lexington Books Language: English
Author: Christian B. N. Gade
ISBN: 9781498512268
Publisher: Lexington Books
Publication: April 18, 2017
Imprint: Lexington Books
Language: English

Many have argued that ubuntu was a formative influence on the post-apartheid Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), South Africa’s famous transitional justice mechanism. A Discourse on African Philosophy: A New Perspective on Ubuntu and Transitional Justice in South Africa challenges and contextualizes this view in a way that not only provides new findings and reflections on ubuntu and the TRC, but also contributes to the field of African philosophy. One of Christian B. N. Gade’s key findings, founded on qualitative interviews in South Africa, is that some former TRC commissioners and committee members question the importance of ubuntu in the TRC process. Another is that there are several differing and historically developing interpretations of ubuntu, some of which have evident political implications and reflect non-factual and creative uses of history. Thus ubuntu is not a shared cultural heritage, in the ethnophilosophical sense of a static property characterizing a group. In fact, throughout this book Gade argues that the ethnophilosophical approach to African philosophy as a static group property is highly problematic. Gade’s research presents an alternative collective discourse on African philosophy (“collective” in the sense that it does not focus on any single individual in particular) that takes differences, historical developments, and social contexts seriously.

This book will be of interest to scholars in African philosophy, transitional justice, politics and cultural heritage, and law in South Africa.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Many have argued that ubuntu was a formative influence on the post-apartheid Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), South Africa’s famous transitional justice mechanism. A Discourse on African Philosophy: A New Perspective on Ubuntu and Transitional Justice in South Africa challenges and contextualizes this view in a way that not only provides new findings and reflections on ubuntu and the TRC, but also contributes to the field of African philosophy. One of Christian B. N. Gade’s key findings, founded on qualitative interviews in South Africa, is that some former TRC commissioners and committee members question the importance of ubuntu in the TRC process. Another is that there are several differing and historically developing interpretations of ubuntu, some of which have evident political implications and reflect non-factual and creative uses of history. Thus ubuntu is not a shared cultural heritage, in the ethnophilosophical sense of a static property characterizing a group. In fact, throughout this book Gade argues that the ethnophilosophical approach to African philosophy as a static group property is highly problematic. Gade’s research presents an alternative collective discourse on African philosophy (“collective” in the sense that it does not focus on any single individual in particular) that takes differences, historical developments, and social contexts seriously.

This book will be of interest to scholars in African philosophy, transitional justice, politics and cultural heritage, and law in South Africa.

More books from Lexington Books

Cover of the book Advancing Critical Criminology by Christian B. N. Gade
Cover of the book The Essence of Desperation by Christian B. N. Gade
Cover of the book Religion in the Post-Yugoslav Context by Christian B. N. Gade
Cover of the book Letting the Other Speak by Christian B. N. Gade
Cover of the book Opportunity, Identity, and Resources in Ethnic Mobilization by Christian B. N. Gade
Cover of the book Resilient Borders and Cultural Diversity by Christian B. N. Gade
Cover of the book Turkey's Integration into the European Union by Christian B. N. Gade
Cover of the book The Prague Spring and the Warsaw Pact Invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 by Christian B. N. Gade
Cover of the book Marxism Against Postmodernism in Educational Theory by Christian B. N. Gade
Cover of the book A History of the Handel Choir of Baltimore (1935–2013) by Christian B. N. Gade
Cover of the book Television, Social Media, and Fan Culture by Christian B. N. Gade
Cover of the book Identity, Morality, and Threat by Christian B. N. Gade
Cover of the book Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Child Migrants by Christian B. N. Gade
Cover of the book Crafting Culturally Efficacious Teacher Preparation and Pedagogies by Christian B. N. Gade
Cover of the book The Narrative Mediterranean by Christian B. N. Gade
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy