Answer to Question #253269 in Law for Mpumi

Question

In what way can the criminal justice functionaries incorporate the principles of ubuntu

Answer 1

there are two essential parts of this philosophy which are catching on elsewhere in the world that criminal justice functionaries can use. The first is the expanded “humanistic” approach (to borrow from the western philosophy of the 19th and 20th centuries). It is important at this point to recognize that a part of the Ubuntu approach is not simply the idea of race relations in the vacuum of South Africa, but how can lessons (and philosophies developed) from that environment be helpful in other areas. That is why we start with the blending of the African philosophies with the western approaches.

At the heart of both African and European cultures rests a strong religious foundation, from which much of their view of others will arise. This is where the humanistic approach comes into play. For the humanist, the theme is on the value of the individual agency (not just liberty), individually and collectively. The general preference is toward critical thinking and evidence (rationalism, empiricism) over the acceptance of dogma or superstition.