Ubuntu-African Philosophy

The Ubuntu African Philosophy defines what it means to be "truly human."  Ubuntu offers us an undertanding of us and our relationship with the world.  This African philosophy states that there is a common bond between all of us, and through that bond, we will learn more about ourselves.  There is a commonly said saying, "Umuntu Ngumuntu Ngabantu," which means that a person is a person through other persons.  Basically, Ubuntu says that we will grow through each other. 

I like Ubuntu, and the way it makes me think.  It gets me to really stop and think about humanity.  What would happen if the whole world followed this philospohy?  Would there be more peace, less wars?  If we understood each other, would our society change for the better, or worse?

There is an interesting video by Jeremy Rifkin that we watched as a class, it can be found here.  His concepts of an empathetic civilization is similar to the Ubuntu philosophy, which can be found here.  They both explain the results of understanding each other as a society, and accepting different rules and opinions.  Rifkin's video is extremely detailed, and it was difficult for me to fully understand his concepts.  There were just so many different points that have been discussed for centuries, and issues that are still happening today.  Ubuntu and Rifkin's topics go hand in hand.  They both talk about different ways to better humanity as a whole.

This African philosophy fits well into our hope and the human spirit unit.  The unit is all about different people, and the various ways we react to personal scenarios.  Even though we are all unique, if we learn to accept each other, and feel for each other, maybe our society can grow together.  It makes me think, can Ubuntu really make the world a better place? 

A Meeting of Solitudes Response

Roger Ebert's journal entry, A Meeting of Solitudes, can be read here.  It seems to be very clear that these two posts by Ebert that I have read are very similar.  They keep me questioning the same thing, and that is what the online world has become.  It's a safe and friendly place for those shy people to voice their opinions.  It's a place for them to say what they want, and be heard my hundreds, thousands, millions.  Maybe they're too nervous to say it out loud, afraid of rejection or even humiliation.  Does knowing that their thoughts can be deleted online give them a feeling of reassurance?  I've been wondering if the internet is the cause for not much social interaction.  If maybe, they had at one point been different, had more friends, not been afraid to speak up.  Or is it just a cycle?  These people become isolated because of the internet, then have nowhere to turn to but the online world.  We all think the same thing, these people must have so much time on their hands, don't they have something better to do?  I guess the answer is no, and that this is what they do with their time.  They have adapted to their lonely lifestyles, but found a way to still be listened to.

Ezra Klein Response

Ezar Klein's "Being 'fully human' online," can be read here if desired.  His short article is about people and their online experiences, and how their real life dreams can be fulfilled on the internet.  It also explains how people can "escape" from their lives when they log onto their computer.  Now, technology is more advanced than ever before.  Being born into this technological era, I have no idea what I would do without my cell phone, computer, television, radio, or most of my everyday tools.  Klein brings up many important points, one being that people can be whoever they want online.  No one knows your true identity on the internet, even when asked to give personal information, we all bend the truth a little bit.  We can create our own perfect world that we can go to whenever we need an "escape."  Then there are those people that use this to their advantage in a rather disturbing way.  I'm talking about those online pedophiles, and predators that are always out there.  Has the internet created dream like haven, or an unsafe online world?    

All The Lonely People Response

Ebert brings up a lot of important points which can be found here.  What really caught my eye was what he said about couples:

"The biological reason we fall in love may be to encourage reproduction. Yet why did nature provide homosexuality if that is the only purpose? Why do people marry with no prospects of children? Babies are not the only thing two people can create together. They can create a safe private world. They can create a reality that affirms their values. They can stand for something. They can find someone to laugh with, and confide in. Someone to hold them when they need to be held. A danger of the internet would be if we begin to meet those needs without feeling there has to be another person in the room."

I found this interesting because it's so true.  Some people want to marry, or be in a relationship because they do not want to be alone in life. The fact is, none of desire to be alone, even if we say we do.  People strive for attention and love, or else they do not feel wanted.  Biology does not play an important role in why we fall in love anymore.  I think we fall in love for multiple reasons, the most important being because we are searching for the one person to spend the rest of our lives with so that we are not ever alone.  Some people then chose to start a family, and create their own reality, like Ebert said, to affirm their values.  Falling in love can reassure what you beileve in, if your partner believes in it too.