So far, most of the ideas about meaning in life that we have discussed are typically Western. I blame that on the White Supremacy Syndrom, from which the West suffers.
The image is that, among other things, mission and colonialism were the highest good, and the West peddled its norms and values all over the world. It is legitimate to ask whether this was such a high-minded moral aspiration.
It is important to note that violence was not an afterthought of the geopolitical advance of Western empires. It took a central place.
As the American political thinker Samuel Huntington (1927 - 2008) once observed: "The West did not win by the superiority of its values or religion...
but mostly because of his superiority in the use of organized violence. Westerners often forget this, non-Westerners never."
In that context, it is interesting to dwell on Ubunte. The word comes from the Bantu language family and is loosely translated as "I am because we are".
Ubuntu refers to an idealistic philosophy of life that strives for a universal covenant of all people. In written form, we find the term in the nineteenth century, but it is probably much older.
Ubuntu has its origins in Africa and has clearly gained a foothold there. For example, it was popularized in the struggle against apartheid in South Africa by people like Bishop Desmund Tutu and a man like Nelson Mandela.
The ubuntu philosophy is almost the opposite of Western philosophy, which focuses mainly on individualism and the role of the individual person.
According to the ubuntu ideal, people should not be seen as individuals but as part of a community. After all, our decisions affect not only ourselves, but others in the community as well.
Everyone therefore has a responsibility to contribute to the well-being of others. This includes giving help when needed, regardless of whether they are family members or not.
This pursuit of maximum social cohesion would therefore fit well with our idea of the form of meaning of life like 'Helping others', but it goes one step further
Because it states that the individual is not more important than the community. Ubuntu is thus in contrast to personal freedom where the individual is put first.
The meaning of life is therefore above all the care for the community. An often-heard criticism is that ubuntu can lead to the denial of personal responsibility and agency and the ignoring of individual differences.
The Ubuntu philosophy embodies a communal ethos that emphasizes shared responsibility, trust in each other, and interconnectedness among the community.
On the one hand, everyone is free and equal, and in terms of rights, the laws are set and decisions are made by the entire population. What we see here
is a field of tension between the democratic freedom of the individual and tendencies of a kind of egalitarian society. To date, it has not been possible to combine these two socio-political principles.
Thank you for your attention...
Main Sources:
MacMillan The Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2nd edition
TABLE OF CONTENT -----------------------------------------------------------------
1 - 100 Philosophers 9 May 2009 Start of
2 - 25+ Women Philosophers 10 May 2009 this blog
3 - 25 Adventures in Thinking 10 May 2009
4 - Modern Theories of Ethics 29 Oct 2009
5 - The Ideal State 24 Febr 2010 / 234
6 - The Mystery of the Brain 3 Sept 2010 / 266
7 - The Utopia of the Free Market 16 Febr 2012 / 383
8. - The Aftermath of Neo-liberalism 5 Sept 2012 / 413
9. - The Art Not to Be an Egoist 6 Nov 2012 / 426
10 - Non-Western Philosophy 29 May 2013 / 477
11 - Why Science is Right 2 Sept 2014 / 534
12 - A Philosopher looks at Atheism 1 Jan 2015 / 557
13 - EVIL, a philosophical investigation 17 Apr 2015 / 580
14 - Existentialism and Free Will 2 Sept 2015 / 586
15 - Spinoza 2 Sept 2016 / 615
16 - The Meaning of Life 13 Febr 2017 / 637
17 - In Search of my Self 6 Sept 2017 / 670
18 - The 20th Century Revisited 3 Apr 2018 / 706
19 - The Pessimist 11 Jan 2020 / 819
20 - The Optimist 9 Febr 2020 / 824
21 - Awakening from a Neoliberal Dream 8 Oct 2020 / 872
22 - A World Full of Patterns 1 Apr 2021 / 912
23 - The Concept of Freedom 8 Jan 2022 / 965
24 - Materialism 7 Sept 2022 / 1011
25 - Historical Materialism 5 Oct 2023 / 1088
26 - The Bonobo and the Atheist 9 Jan 2024 / 1102
27 - Artificial Intelligence 9 Feb 2024 / 1108
28 - Why Am I Here 6 Sept 2024 / 1139
[13:19] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): Thank you Herman
[13:19] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): Fun fact is that most peope have heard of the term Ubuntu as the most common version of the Linus OS
[13:19] herman Bergson: Eventually it would be a kind of mix of communism and democracy...
[13:19] Sookie Hart (sookicatalina): That is a very interesting philosophy. I'd never heard of it before.
[13:19] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): sounds like more socialism
[13:19] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): it uses the rerm more or less as "Linux for exeryone"
[13:19] herman Bergson: Let's ignore that Bejiita
[13:19] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): term
[13:20] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): I was reading about that recently also and cant recall where
[13:20] Sookie Hart (sookicatalina): Yes it does sound socialistic to me too.
[13:20] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but indeed it as i understand means like community
[13:20] herman Bergson: Well Sooki, most interesting is that it comes from Africa...philosophically ignored terretory
[13:20] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): true
[13:21] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yes african origins
[13:21] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): but it does not seem to really work there anywhere anymore either
[13:21] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): what means socialism in yur opnion Gemma?
[13:21] herman Bergson: It has socialistic traits indeed.....
[13:22] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah
[13:22] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): like that in thinking all are equal and have rights
[13:22] herman Bergson: My idea is rhar such a philosophy can emerge there because tribal sentiments are much stronger still in that part of the world...
[13:22] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and the group is more important than the individual
[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah yes
[13:23] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): in caring for all
[13:23] herman Bergson: In the West even the family is hardly still a coheseive group
[13:23] herman Bergson: Yes Gemma....but do we know how to handle that idea....
[13:23] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): right
[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): We should maybee strive for more of Ubuntu indeed
[13:24] herman Bergson: Well...we vote...which means the group decides...not a single individual
[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): it soulds like a good concept to me
[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but mans egoism comes in the way too often at most places i think
[13:25] herman Bergson: Biologically we are social animals indeed....but how do we materialize that in our societies?
[13:25] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aha
[13:25] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yes
[13:25] herman Bergson: Ububtu or extreme individualism like in the US Rep party
[13:26] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): some try
[13:26] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): some fail
[13:26] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): indeed , totally opposites
[13:26] herman Bergson: I feel a bit at a loss here....
[13:27] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): we will not be able to save the world
[13:27] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): just talk about it
[13:27] herman Bergson: I find the Ubuntu ideas attractive, but I also have to face our Western individualism
[13:27] herman Bergson: We don't need to worry about the owrld at all, Gemma...
[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): maybee some hybrid of both?
[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): idk
[13:27] herman Bergson: It already exists more than three bollion years
[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): what i know is that greed and egoism is a huge problem in many parts of the world at moment
[13:28] herman Bergson: billion
[13:28] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yep
[13:28] herman Bergson: The world will save itself and keep rotating around the sun....doesnt need us for that
[13:29] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:29] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:29] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): meant all the societies of the world
[13:29] herman Bergson: Like George CArlin says...we are just an arrogant pest :-)
[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): as long as we dont totally nuke it
[13:29] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): not the physical world
[13:30] herman Bergson: Bejiita..the world has susstained bigger blows that some lousy nukes....
[13:30] herman Bergson: blows that caused extinction of complete ecosystems
[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but we have enough of them i think to erradicate all life + the radiation also
[13:30] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): from listening lately tho I get the impression that one nuke would lead to so many more it would possibly end this world
[13:31] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well hope thas not becoming a reality ever
[13:31] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): there has been discussion of hwo has their finger on the button
[13:31] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hmm
[13:31] herman Bergson: Well..the rotational pole of Mars once shifted 25 degrees...poof ...all water disappeared....can happen :-)
[13:31] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and they are not practicing ubuntu
[13:31] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): indeed, authoritatian monsters
[13:31] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): the total opposite
[13:32] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): (shuudders)
[13:32] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): we need more Ubuntu and less of those
[13:32] herman Bergson: No Gemma...if they had they might have pushed the rotational pole back in place :-)
[13:32] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): thats a fact
[13:32] herman Bergson: But all fun aside....
[13:33] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): that was not fun
[13:33] herman Bergson: this collectivism and individualism that is both in us....that is the point here
[13:33] herman Bergson: I am sorry Gemma....
[13:34] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): :)
[13:34] Sookie Hart (sookicatalina): If we think of all the world's nations as the global community, wouldn't it be lovely if our leaders considered what is best for all people?
[13:34] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): indeed!
[13:34] herman Bergson: That was the dream of the UNited Nations after World War 2, Sooki
[13:35] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:35] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:35] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): herein my state of cT we have 169 feifdoms who will not get together on anything
[13:35] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and we are a small state
[13:35] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): it is ridiculous
[13:35] herman Bergson: We even have an Internationa Court in The Hague....for those who don't stick to the rules
[13:36] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): but some will not even join that
[13:36] herman Bergson: yes... :-(
[13:37] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): one of the more depressing things i know of is the Arabic spring 2011. It was a global rise for freedom but in the end was beat down and started the Syria war wich still rage today + all things going on now in adittion
[13:37] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): it feels like good only wins on the white screen, in reality evil always wins
[13:38] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): :(
[13:38] herman Bergson: We are a kind of split personallity....inclined to violence and to love...inclined to selfishness and sharing....
[13:38] herman Bergson: Allways a kind of balance
[13:39] herman Bergson: Yes Bejiita....it is already forgotten....
[13:39] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hmm
[13:39] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i want the good side to win in rl also, not just on film
[13:40] herman Bergson: Here and there you can read that democracy is in decline these days.....
[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yes
[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah
[13:40] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): true
[13:41] herman Bergson: Yet I don't understand this development....
[13:41] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): maybe good thinbgs are boring, people find bad behavior interesting
[13:41] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): it is odd
[13:41] herman Bergson: What do people expect from it?
[13:41] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): specia interest for each of them
[13:41] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): specal
[13:41] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hmm
[13:41] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): sigh
[13:41] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): special
[13:42] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): until they learn the truth
[13:42] herman Bergson: personal gain. Gemma?
[13:42] Sookie Hart (sookicatalina): If we think of democracy as progressive, many people out there do not want progressive.
[13:42] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): exactly
[13:42] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): when they see it does not come they will swing back to the left
[13:42] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): watch
[13:43] herman Bergson: No...for it leads to sharing.....sharing resources....being content with what you have....
[13:43] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): happened over and oder in history
[13:43] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): over
[13:43] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): have type disease today
[13:43] Sookie Hart (sookicatalina): That does seem to be true, Herman.
[13:44] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): education as well
[13:45] herman Bergson: What teaches us the attitude that we want to have everything for our selves, the highest salary, the biggest piece of the pie, the fatsest car.....?
[13:45] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): as i understand from youtube many trump voters were duped only realiing they made a terrible misstake after it was too late. 3
[13:45] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): +realizing
[13:46] herman Bergson: Trump is just a symptom....
[13:46] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hmm true,
[13:46] herman Bergson: he will disappear again.....but the basic involved attitude....????
[13:47] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hopefully before he makes too big of damage
[13:47] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): its quite scary
[13:47] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well
[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yes it started in other countries before trump
[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): like Turkey
[13:47] herman Bergson: Internationally it started in 1989 when the Berlin Wall fell....
[13:48] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ahha
[13:48] herman Bergson: YEAH, capitalism and (they whispered) democracy have won
[13:48] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): when we thought the world would be a better place after
[13:48] Sookie Hart (sookicatalina): In part, I think that selfish attitude has to do with the hyper-focus on the individual to the exclusion of other important considerations.
[13:48] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): as said evil wins always in the end sadly it seems
[13:49] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yes sookie
[13:49] herman Bergson: Yes Sooki, the individual has to be the winner, not a loser....independent whether it is inthe interest of the group
[13:51] herman Bergson: RecentlyI heard a father say to his toddler...Yeah you won!....
[13:51] herman Bergson: and I thought....yes so it begins...
[13:51] herman Bergson: There only can be ONE winner...sharing a victory???? Weird idea :-)
[13:51] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): indeed
[13:51] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and unfair
[13:52] Guestboook van tipjar stand: Gemma Cleanslate donated L$100. Thank you very much, it is much appreciated!
[13:52] Sookie Hart (sookicatalina): I'll bet that doesn't happen in Ubuntu culture
[13:53] herman Bergson: Only now and then there is a news item of a group of people that achieved a collective "victory", forinstance in saving animals or forming a happy communnity
[13:53] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): true
[13:54] herman Bergson: Whan you think of it Sooki, Ubuntu would despice competitive games and sports
[13:54] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): hmmm
[13:54] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): not sure
[13:54] herman Bergson: What is the sense in showing and celebrating that one person is better than all....
[13:55] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): coaches would support the idea remember we try to win but so does the other team
[13:55] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): so no more Olympics?
[13:55] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): so respect them
[13:56] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:56] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:56] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): good coaches do that anyway
[13:56] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): Herman have to run off
[13:56] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ♥ Thank Youuuuuuuuuu!! ♥
[13:56] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ok Gemma
[13:56] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:56] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): bye for now and hugs
[13:56] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:56] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): take care Gemma
[13:56] herman Bergson: Ok Gemma...have a nice day:-)
[13:57] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ♥ Thank Youuuuuuuuuu!! ♥
[13:57] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:57] herman Bergson: Thank you all again.....
[13:57] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): Thank you Herman
[13:57] Sookie Hart (sookicatalina): Thanks Herman. See you all next week
[13:57] herman Bergson: Class dismissed...
[13:57] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): bye Sookie
