What can the socio-political ethic of ubuntu contribute to contemporary conceptions of "development"?

Abstract

This research report is a philosophical exploration of what the socio-political ethic of ubuntu can contribute to the three value questions raised by the ‘Development Ethic’ paradigm. It looks into what ubuntu as an ethic is about and promises as a moral theory, and then, applies this moral theory to the three value questions: 1) What is a meaningful life? 2) How ought we to treat nature? 3) What are the foundations of a just society? The response that ubuntu provides to answer these value questions will be taken as the preliminary vision of ‘development’ informed by ubuntu.