PDU 3701
ASSIGNMENT 2
2022
, There are various definitions of the word "Ubuntu". The most recent definition was
provided by the African Journal of Social Work (AJSW). The journal defined ubuntu as a
collection of values and practices that people of Africa or of African origin view as
making people authentic human beings. While the nuances of these values and
practices vary across different ethnic groups, they all point to one thing an authentic
individual human being is part of a larger and more significant relational, communal,
societal, environmental and spiritual world. There are many different (and not always
compatible) definitions of what ubuntu is. Ubuntu asserts that society gives human
beings their humanity. An example is a Zulu-speaking person who when commanding to
speak in Zulu would say "khuluma isintu", which means "speak the language of people".
When someone behaves according to custom, a Sotho-speaking person would say "ke
motho", which means "he/she is a human". The aspect of this that would be exemplified
by a tale told (often, in private quarters) in Nguni "kushone abantu ababili ne
Shangaan", in Sepedi "go tlhokofetje batho ba babedi le leShangane", in English (two
people died and one Shangaan). In each of these examples, humanity comes from
conforming to or being part of the tribe. Ubuntu refers to behaving well towards others
or acting in ways that benefit the community. Such acts could be as simple as helping a
stranger in need, or much more complex ways of relating with others. A person who
behaves in these ways has ubuntu. He or she is a full person. For some, Ubuntu is
something akin to a soul force an actual metaphysical connection shared between
people and which helps us connect to each other. Ubuntu will push one toward selfless
acts. There are related words in many sub-Saharan African cultures and languages,
and the word Ubuntu is now widely known and used outside of South Africa.
Ubuntu as political philosophy encourages community equality, propagating the
distribution of wealth. This socialisation is a vestige of agrarian peoples as a hedge
against the crop failures of individuals. Socialisation presupposes a community
ASSIGNMENT 2
2022
, There are various definitions of the word "Ubuntu". The most recent definition was
provided by the African Journal of Social Work (AJSW). The journal defined ubuntu as a
collection of values and practices that people of Africa or of African origin view as
making people authentic human beings. While the nuances of these values and
practices vary across different ethnic groups, they all point to one thing an authentic
individual human being is part of a larger and more significant relational, communal,
societal, environmental and spiritual world. There are many different (and not always
compatible) definitions of what ubuntu is. Ubuntu asserts that society gives human
beings their humanity. An example is a Zulu-speaking person who when commanding to
speak in Zulu would say "khuluma isintu", which means "speak the language of people".
When someone behaves according to custom, a Sotho-speaking person would say "ke
motho", which means "he/she is a human". The aspect of this that would be exemplified
by a tale told (often, in private quarters) in Nguni "kushone abantu ababili ne
Shangaan", in Sepedi "go tlhokofetje batho ba babedi le leShangane", in English (two
people died and one Shangaan). In each of these examples, humanity comes from
conforming to or being part of the tribe. Ubuntu refers to behaving well towards others
or acting in ways that benefit the community. Such acts could be as simple as helping a
stranger in need, or much more complex ways of relating with others. A person who
behaves in these ways has ubuntu. He or she is a full person. For some, Ubuntu is
something akin to a soul force an actual metaphysical connection shared between
people and which helps us connect to each other. Ubuntu will push one toward selfless
acts. There are related words in many sub-Saharan African cultures and languages,
and the word Ubuntu is now widely known and used outside of South Africa.
Ubuntu as political philosophy encourages community equality, propagating the
distribution of wealth. This socialisation is a vestige of agrarian peoples as a hedge
against the crop failures of individuals. Socialisation presupposes a community
