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A human(e) \u27uni-versity\u27: resisting scientism, technicism, and economism
Get PDFThis article focuses on the issue of dehumanising knowledgegenerating procedures in the contemporary university. For this purpose different practical examples are analysed. It is argued that these dehumanising practices are rooted in present-day techno-scientistic elitism that has gone beyond the distinction between good and evil, and has developed into capitalistic pragmatism. Furthermore it is argued that these practices suppress critical reflection and creative alternatives in favour of gainful advantage within paradigmatic limitations. Real postmodern relativism thus does not exist; it is rather the absolutism of the economy and the market that determine the nature of knowledge-building processes
Religieuse geloof en Descartes se program
Get PDFReligious faith and Descartes’ programme In this article it is argued that an important source contributing to the secularisation of Western thought can be traced to the effects of the so-called “Enlightenment project” that originated in the philosophical programme of René Descartes. Although this project bore important fruits for Western thinking, it had a disastrous effect on the way the meaning and rationality of religious belief had been understood in Western society. On the one hand this project entailed a referential theory of meaning that tended to reduce all meaning to its epistemic dimensions. This theory could hardly account for the much broader role of religion in human life and thought. On the other hand this project entailed a foundationalist view on rationality that could not account for the rationality of religious belief. In this article it is attempted to indicate that the post-modern revolution in Western philosophy has produced new ideas on meaning and rationality which are able to account for the meaning and rationality of religion in a more satisfactory way
\u27The residues of freedom,… tendencies toward true humanism\u27: thoughts on the role of the humanities at the beginning of the twentyfirst century
Get PDFRemarks from Kant’s third critique, “The Critique of Judgement”, are taken as guidelines to develop a view on works of art as vessels of knowledge and judgements about what the world appears to be, can be and ought to be. In itself, Kant’s remarks amount to a justification of the study of the arts, i.e. it is for the sake of a world where human beings may experience other human beings as companions in the project to sustain human life. The viability of such an endeavour is borne out by, for example, a recent performance of Beethoven in a most adverse context, and by the fact of international treaties in the past decade against some of the most serious violations of human rights. These treaties could not have been possible were it not for the artistic explorations of the tragedies of these violations
The importance and significance of peace studies with special reference to South Africa’s political-security role in Africa
Get PDFThe origins of peace studies as an academic field of inquiry could be traced to the late 1940s and the field has been developing considerably since then. Currently, scholars at various tertiary institutions over the world are involved in using their academic skills to educate students about the causes of wars and violent conflict while pointing out various alternatives to these phenomena. Peace studies in the South African and broader African context are certainly of great significance and importance. After all, the gripping and devastating violence that manifested in African countries such as Liberia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Burundi, Rwanda, the DRC, Somalia, Angola, the Comoros and many other conflict-stricken areas warrant scholarly attention with a view to better understanding the causes, dynamics and effects of such conflict. By means of this understanding the conflict could be addressed through mechanisms of conflict resolution and peace building could be promoted. Furthermore, the South African Government’s progressive military involvement in international peace missions in recent years is far more than an issue of mere military concern. It is a matter of great political interest and significance. Being supportive of the need for peace studies in the curricula of South African universities (and African universities in general), this article argues that South African students should be exposed to a rich and comprehensive literature on the search for international peace and security; of how to understand and deal with the causes of large-scale conflict and violence; and how these could be curtailed and resolved ? literature which informs scholarly discussions and research in many centres and places of education, training and peace building
Kernaspekte van ’n model vir skoolsukses in arm gemeenskappe
Get PDFKey aspects of a model for school success in poor communities Some schools in impoverished communities are effective and successful in the face of the most difficult socio-economic circumstances and challenges. This phenomenon was investigated in a research project which had three phases. The first entailed a literature survey, culminating in a taxonomy of determinants of school success. The second phase consisted of the application of the taxonomy in field work in selected successful schools in impoverished communities. The third phase comprised interpretation of theoretical and empirical data, culminating in a model which depicts partnership as the central factor in all values and mechanisms pertaining to a successful school in an impoverished community. The model’s potential value is indicated, inter alia in guiding schools in impoverished communities towards meaningful self-assessment and change