Week 4 - Ubuntu Philosophy

In the two class readings on the African philosophy of Ubuntu, both articles made cases that ‘we’ is stronger than ‘me’. I like the part that states that Ubuntu philosophy is compassionate, but not soft. If a person is lacking or falling behind they must be challenged. I see this as an opportunity to support and encourage one another for the greater good of a larger group. This concept in certain areas of our modern society can be extremely challenging. There are going to be individuals that want to reap the benefits of a society yet are not willing to participate in its daily functions, and often they are not challenged. Ubuntu, team work, treating others as you want to be treated, these appear to be such simple concepts. Why then is it beyond our grasp in with modern society to achieve this? In our fast paced, get a head world we have separated ourselves from each other. If it is not ‘I’ must win or be better than you, we are placed in a group by color, religion, political affiliation, or even a sports team and it is still you, and your group, that must come out in the winning spot. Maybe we would do better with Ubuntu philosophy if we did live and function in smaller groups of individuals. Interacting with people from so many diverse backgrounds and cultures throughout the world puts a lot of conflicting ethics into the individual pieces of the puzzle and maybe they just are not made to fit together.