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Philosophical Development, Capitalism & Post-Colonialism

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The Solution provides a concise and extensive discussion on the topics presented below:

1.)As you consider DQ 2 and respond to each other's comments, please keep in mind post-colonial issues surveyed in Chapter 16. One thing we must consider in light of the material from this week's reading is the subjugation of native peoples. Please compare and contrast the philosophies of the subjugated groups in Africa, the Americas, and Asia (those that have been conquered and ruled by predominantly European cultures). What is similar and different about their (the dominated, marginalized groups) philosophical development?

2.)To bring our focus to the point of the discussion question, I think we should define philosophical development. What do we mean by philosophical development? And what is similar and different about that development in Africa, the Americas, and Asia?

3.)Our text says, "...what it means to be a human being is something that must be created as well as discovered." (p. 550). That is to say, "...the idea of a person...is more an invention of human beings than an inherent fact of nature." (550). What's up with that?

4.)Desmond Tutu says he loathes Capitalism because it gives far too great play to our inherent selfishness (p. 552). What do you think he means by this? Is he right?

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The Solution provides a concise and extensive discussion on the topics of philosophical development, capitalism & post-colonialism. The solution is divided into 4 parts or essays, tackling specific problems as dictated by the original post (see long description). The solution is also attached as a word file for easy printing.

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Dear Student,

As far as I can tell from your post, it seems that you are having trouble getting into the heart of the topics discussed in this particular period in your class. Don't panic its okay. Many an established thinker find some ideas a little too abstract or confusing and, in a classroom setting, at times it depends on the ability of the instructor to reiterate and present the ideas to his students. Some instructors are a little too 'lofty' when explaining sometimes and think that it is the duty of the student to work harder at understanding the ideas at hand, especially in Philosophy. Whatever the case is in your class, understand that philosophy; at the heart of it all is about 'perspectives', a take at how the world is a human attempt at explaining reality by critical & reasoned arguments. Many a philosopher argues with the smallest details about the pertinence of their ideas with each other even if their ideas are very similar or pertain to the same principles & arguments. So don't panic, take it easy. The key in understanding a certain philosophy is to find a particular way about how it views the world on a particular subject matter and use the same subject matter to view another philosophy to compare & contrast them with each other. This way, you will get a sense of what it's about and what the differences or similarities are, especially if you come to that point in your class where you are expected to compare & contrast views - this little intellectual exercise comes in handy. As a quick example let's take a look at pragmatism & dogmatism - pragmatism, put simply is that idea of dealing with life influenced by a sense of practicality, of open-mindedness; dogmatism on the other hand is its anti-thesis where practicality is not the case - action must be guided by a set of dogmatic principles or rules as in a certain faith or religion. Now, take the case of Abortion. For pragmatists, abortion is a wise choice for young women who were victims of rape but for dogmatists, especially Christians & Muslims, this is an abominable sin against the tenets of their faith and in Islam, an act punishable by sin. Now, let's get to your questions. I will provide a discussion on each question directly answering each and then add links or references that you can use to expand the ideas I presented. Questions 1 & 2 are similar and they are answered in item 1. If you have any questions regarding this solution - a guide I created for you so you can understand & analyse the questions you posted far more clearly, just send me a message. Good luck!

OTA 105878
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1. Discussing Colonial Philosophy

The question, I deem is asking you to discuss how colonization influenced native thinking and what this did to the consciousness of the subjugated people. During the age of Exploration & Discovery, understand that the European Kingdoms that sent out their navy to explore the world & expand their territories had an impartial view of the world; while they did have the scientist Galileo Galilee preaching about the oblate shape of the world, the world that we know today was not known. In the Far East, China, the Middle Kingdom only knew a little of the West via the stories of Marco Polo and the Merchants that plied the 'Silk Route' through Turkey & Central Asia. But more so in Europe, Kingdoms & monarchies battle each other in wars & political manoeuvring for territory & power and the world they knew - culture, knowledge, belief systems was pretty much what they had: they were Christian/Catholic, directly or by force influenced by the Papacy in Rome, a remnant of the powerful Holy Roman Empire. Now, when Vasco Da Gama went south to charter a route down Africa across the Indian Ocean to reach the Spice Islands, the Malaccas, the world he was brand new to a European's eyes. When Da Gama set his sight on the first African he was struck by the colour of his skin and his hair and how the African talked, moved or was clothed. He found them too foreign, too uncouth, too removed from his idea of what a man is or civilization is. Same with Columbus when he first stumbled upon what is now the American Continent through the Caribbean islands - the natives were a people apart from him and he judged them according to his already set ideas on culture, social status, government & society. Da Gama & Columbus cannot help this - they are products of their world, their socialization. They came from a civilization keen on subjugating a people & territory by force if need be, also they were far more advanced in terms of military prowess and political governance. True, the Aztecs, the Olmecs & the Incas held great seats of power in what is now Latin America, they also tried their best to resist the forces of Pissarro. In the end however, the stronger player wins & subjugation came, then after a time period, assimilation began. The Philippines in Asia Pacific became that collection of islands through the feat of the Spanish explorer Magellan and offered the territories to then King Phillip ...

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  • MPhil/PhD (IP), Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
  • MA, Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
  • Certificate, Geva Ulpan (via Universita Tel Aviv)
  • BA, University of the Philippines
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