3. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - All submissions
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Item Ubuntu, Zimbabwe and the ethics of intervention(2010-12-14) De Jager, PetaABSTRACT The profound and extensive nature of difficulties in Zimbabwean current affairs raises a moral dilemma for South Africa: should it intervene in some way, or respect Zimbabwean sovereignty? Is there a plausible ‘middle ground’ theory to resolves this dilemma? This paper argues that there may well be. It further argues that such a ‘middle ground’ account is consistent with at least one version of ubuntu, an indigenous sub-Saharan African philosophy. What does ubuntu have to say about the right (or perhaps even the obligation) of the South African government to have intervened in Zimbabwean affairs? Does it vindicate South Africa for its failure to intervene? This project, whilst not providing a decisive answer to the question of whether intervention in Zimbabwe by South Africa is legitimate on this African world-view, provides one possible approach to evaluating the dilemma from an ubuntu-informed perspective.Item Justification of the state and anarchist alternatives(2008-10-03T10:08:22Z) Taylor, TristenJustification of the State and Anarchist Alternatives aims to establish four key findings regarding the State and its justification according to a revised form of Aristotelian perfectionist ethics. The first finding is a proper definition of a State, and how that definition of the State compares to other definitions of the State, most notably, Max Weber’s definition. The second finding is the establishment of what parts of Aristotle’s ethics and politics are feasible and sound; this requires historical enquiry in addition to philosophical enquiry. The third finding is that this revised form of Aristotelian ethics does not justify the State. The fourth finding is that Aristotelian ethics would justify a non-state political structure (the modern polis), and objections to that structure are dealt with. The core of the thesis is that Aristotle’s ethics do not justify the state, but would justify a form of anarchism.