A Comparison of the Views of Augustine Shutte and Thaddeus
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A Comparison of the Views of Augustine Shutte and Thaddeus Metz on African Philosophy and Ubuntu Ethics Patrick Joseph Ehlers A mini-thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Arts in the Department of Religion and Theology, University of the Western Cape. Supervisor: Professor Christoffel Lombard November 2017 Table of Contents Declaration............................................................................................................................................ iii Acknowledgements .............................................................................................................................. iv Abstract .................................................................................................................................................. v Key words ............................................................................................................................................. vi Chapter 1: Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 The focus of the study ................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 The Rationale of the Study .......................................................................................................... 2 Chapter 2: Background Orientation in African Philosophy and Ethics .......................................... 5 2.1 The Context of the study ............................................................................................................. 5 2.1.1 The South African historical, political and ethical context ................................................... 5 2.1.2 The context of African ideas ................................................................................................. 5 2.2 The Relevance of the study ......................................................................................................... 8 2.3 Literature review ......................................................................................................................... 9 2.3.1 Augustine Shutte .................................................................................................................. 9 2.3.2 Thaddeus Metz ................................................................................................................... 12 2.4 Demarcation .............................................................................................................................. 17 2.4.1 Shutte’s contribution ......................................................................................................... 17 2.4.2 Metz’s contribution ............................................................................................................ 18 2.5 Research problem ..................................................................................................................... 19 2.6 Theoretical Framework ............................................................................................................. 20 2.7 Research hypothesis ................................................................................................................. 21 2.8 Research Methodology and Procedure..................................................................................... 22 Chapter 3: Shutte’s metaphysical contribution towards an appreciation of Ubuntu philosophy and ethics ............................................................................................................................................. 24 3.1 Shutte’s work and orientation on Ubuntu ................................................................................ 24 3.2 Shutte and Apartheid ................................................................................................................ 26 i http://etd.uwc.ac.za/ 3.3 Shutte and (South) African Ethics ............................................................................................. 27 3.4 Shutte and the Sciences ............................................................................................................ 29 Chapter 4: Metz’s normative analytical contribution to ................................................................. 31 African philosophy and ethics ............................................................................................................ 31 4.1 Metz’s concepts on Ubuntu and African Moral Theory ............................................................ 31 4.2 Metz’s normative and modernist approach ............................................................................. 32 4.3 Metz on Right Action, Shared Identity and Good-Will .............................................................. 33 4.4 Metz’s African Concept of Human Rights ................................................................................. 36 Chapter 5: A comparative assessment of the views of Shutte and Metz ........................................ 38 5.1 Contrasting Worldviews ............................................................................................................ 38 5.2 Appealing divergences on the use of Ubuntu ........................................................................... 40 5.3 Views on Political, Social and Economic Transformation ......................................................... 42 5.4 Views on Communication and Moral Development ................................................................. 46 5.5 Views on Education, Science and Technology .......................................................................... 47 5.6 Beliefs and beyond .................................................................................................................... 49 5.7 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 50 Bibliography ........................................................................................................................................ 52 ii http://etd.uwc.ac.za/ Declaration I, Patrick Joseph Ehlers, hereby declare “A comparison of the views of Augustine Shutte and Thaddeus Metz on African philosophy and Ubuntu ethics” is my work, and that it has not been submitted before in any other institution for degree purposes, and that all the resources I have used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by complete references. Signed ……………………………….. November 2017 iii http://etd.uwc.ac.za/ Acknowledgements I would like to thank my family, colleagues and friends for their love, understanding and support during the time I had to work on my mini-thesis. Thank you Prof Christoffel Lombard my supervisor, who was very patient and supportive to me during this time. Also Dr Oritsegbubemi Oyowe and Prof Ernst Conradie for reaching out to me. Last but not least, thank you God for guiding and protecting me through some difficult times of work and study. iv http://etd.uwc.ac.za/ Abstract A COMPARISON OF THE VIEWS OF AUGUSTINE SHUTTE AND THADDEUS METZ ON AFRICAN PHILOSOPHY AND UBUNTU ETHICS In the theoretical study of Ethics much emphasis has traditionally been placed on established ethical theories, via approaches typified e.g. as deontological, divine command, utilitarian, virtue ethics and natural ethics. At UWC all these approaches, very much entrenched in the Western academic canon, have been taught, together with ethical views carried by the world religions. Over the last few years, however, an interest in the study of African ideas (philosophy, theology, worldview studies, especially around the elusive but fascinating concept of Ubuntu) has grown. This study is an attempt to make a contribution towards a more serious exchange with African ethical ideas and their application in a global context. In this mini-thesis I compare the views of two academics, Augustine Shutte and Thaddeus Metz, who have actively and deliberately worked in the field of African philosophy and ethics. Through this comparative study of two rather different readings of Ubuntu philosophy, I wish to contribute to the growing interest in ethical views and discourse emanating from African ways of looking at the world and at humanity. The well-known, recently deceased, Augustine Shutte, a Catholic scholar of repute, taught Philosophy at the University of Cape Town, and published books such as Philosophy for Africa, The Mystery of Humanity; Ubuntu, An ethic for a New South Africa and The Quest for Humanity in Science and Religion, The South African Experience. The other scholar, the American born philosopher Thaddeus Metz, started teaching Philosophy at the University of Johannesburg and shifted his intellectual attention to African ideas and ethics. Coming from a rational Kantian approach, mixed with utilitarian ethical concerns, Metz discovered the difficulty of adding another “African mix” to main stream academia, based on the comprehensive scope of the very inclusive look at what it means to be human in the quite unique African worldview. He has published widely and in depth on many aspects of this “clash of cultures” while also holding on to enlightenment ideals and an ongoing conversation with science, especially also social science. These two authors thus share many concerns and interests, but also represent two different angles and approaches into African philosophy and ethics. The question