Research Agendas in an Ubuntu Paradigm

The article contributes to the ongoing scholarly exploration of Ubuntu as an indigenous Southern African research paradigm. Building on an understanding of Ubuntu as humanness that embraces the interconnectedness not only of humans, but of all creation, the article emphasises that how we research i...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Maren Seehawer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Johannesburg 2023-04-01
Series:SOTL in the South
Subjects:
Online Access:https://sotl-south-journal.net/index.php/sotls/article/view/351
_version_ 1827958109663920128
author Maren Seehawer
author_facet Maren Seehawer
author_sort Maren Seehawer
collection DOAJ
description The article contributes to the ongoing scholarly exploration of Ubuntu as an indigenous Southern African research paradigm. Building on an understanding of Ubuntu as humanness that embraces the interconnectedness not only of humans, but of all creation, the article emphasises that how we research is inseparable from what is researched. Being human in the sense of Ubuntu is not passive but depends on our continued enacting of our humanness through relating positively to others. On this basis, being/becoming human is understood as an inherent (research) agenda in the Ubuntu paradigm. It is proposed that Ubuntu accommodates research agendas that recognise the interdependence of humans with other humans, other species and our shared planet and that aim at balancing these relationships in search of humble togetherness. Ubuntu research agendas seek to contribute to the healing of our planet’s human made colonial and ecological conditions locally or globally.
first_indexed 2024-04-09T15:30:24Z
format Article
id doaj.art-afad924d52034038a3215fa7c6cb02a8
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2523-1154
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-09T15:30:24Z
publishDate 2023-04-01
publisher University of Johannesburg
record_format Article
series SOTL in the South
spelling doaj.art-afad924d52034038a3215fa7c6cb02a82023-04-28T08:55:21ZengUniversity of JohannesburgSOTL in the South2523-11542023-04-017110.36615/sotls.v7i1.351Research Agendas in an Ubuntu ParadigmMaren Seehawer0MF – Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society, Norway The article contributes to the ongoing scholarly exploration of Ubuntu as an indigenous Southern African research paradigm. Building on an understanding of Ubuntu as humanness that embraces the interconnectedness not only of humans, but of all creation, the article emphasises that how we research is inseparable from what is researched. Being human in the sense of Ubuntu is not passive but depends on our continued enacting of our humanness through relating positively to others. On this basis, being/becoming human is understood as an inherent (research) agenda in the Ubuntu paradigm. It is proposed that Ubuntu accommodates research agendas that recognise the interdependence of humans with other humans, other species and our shared planet and that aim at balancing these relationships in search of humble togetherness. Ubuntu research agendas seek to contribute to the healing of our planet’s human made colonial and ecological conditions locally or globally. https://sotl-south-journal.net/index.php/sotls/article/view/351decolonising methodologiesresearch agendarelational ethicsubuntu
spellingShingle Maren Seehawer
Research Agendas in an Ubuntu Paradigm
SOTL in the South
decolonising methodologies
research agenda
relational ethics
ubuntu
title Research Agendas in an Ubuntu Paradigm
title_full Research Agendas in an Ubuntu Paradigm
title_fullStr Research Agendas in an Ubuntu Paradigm
title_full_unstemmed Research Agendas in an Ubuntu Paradigm
title_short Research Agendas in an Ubuntu Paradigm
title_sort research agendas in an ubuntu paradigm
topic decolonising methodologies
research agenda
relational ethics
ubuntu
url https://sotl-south-journal.net/index.php/sotls/article/view/351
work_keys_str_mv AT marenseehawer researchagendasinanubuntuparadigm