Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis investigates why human poverty and environmental degradation still exist
to the extent that they do in a world where there appears to be sufficient scientific and
social knowledge to reduce them considerably. It asserts that the reason they continue
to exist on such a large scale is because their root cause - a mistaken understanding of
humanity's role in creation - has not been sufficiently examined.
Humanity's mistaken understanding of ourselves as the Cartesian lords of creation is
addressed by introducing the Biblically-based concept of Shalom, as interpreted by
theologians Ulrich Duchrow and Gerhard Liedke in their book, Shalom. Biblical
Perspectives on Creation, Justice and Peace (1987). The concept stresses how our
exploitative relationship towards creation results in destructive relationships with our
fellow human beings and ultimately with God.
The thesis argues that global capitalism's central value of accumulating wealth for its
own sake has severely disrupted Shalom in society and the rest of creation. Using a
second work of theologian Ulrich Duchrow, Alternatives to Global Capitalism.
Drawn from Biblical History Designed for Political Action (1995), the social and
environmental poverty inducing structures within the world economy are highlighted.
It is asserted that in order to reduce poverty and environmental degradation within the
economy, this central value of wealth accumulation for its own sake has to be replaced
with one that seeks to satisfy the basic needs of all people.
The thesis also discusses the inability of the South African government's macro
economic strategy - the Growth, Employment and Redistribution plan (GEAR)- to
create Shalom. In order for the macro-economic strategy of South Africa to address
the exploitative relationships that exist within the economy, it is argued that a more
critical attitude towards the values and structures of the market economy is needed. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis ondersoek die vraag hoekom armoede en omgewingsaftakeling steeds
bestaan in 'n wêreld waar genoegsame wetenskaplike en sosiale kennis beskikbaar is
om dit aansienlik te verminder. Dit argumenteer dat die rede waarom hierdie probleme
op so 'n groot skaal voortbestaan, is omdat hulle grondoorsaak - 'n verkeerde verstaan
van die mens se rol in die skepping - nie voldoende ondersoek is nie.
Die mensdom se misverstaan van sigself as die Cartesiaanse meesters van die
skepping word aangespreek deur die ondersoek van die Bybels-gebasseerde konsep
van Shalom, soos geïnterpreteer deur die teoloë Ulrich Duchrow and Gerhard Liedke
in hulle boek Shalom. Biblical Perspectives on Creation, Justice and Peace (1987).
Die konsep benadruk hoe ons eksploiterende verhouding tot die skepping resulteer in
'n vernietigende verhouding met ons medemens en uiteindelik, met God.
Die tesis argumenteer dat globale kapitalisme, met die akkumulasie van welvaart vir
sigself as sentrale waarde, Shalom ondermyn in die wêreld en die res van die
skepping. Deur gebruik te maak van 'n tweede werk van die teoloog Ulrich Duchrow,
Alternatives to Global Capitalism. Drawn from Biblical History Designed for
Political Action (1995), word die strukture wat sosiale- en omgewings-armoede
veroorsaak binne die wêreldekonomie, ondersoek. Dit word gestel dat, ten einde
armoede en omgewingsvernietiging te verminder, hierdie sentrale waarde van
welvaartakkumulasie vir sigself vervang moet word met een wat daarna streef om die
basiese behoeftes van mense te bevredig.
Die onvermoë van die Suid-Afrikaanse regering se makro-ekonomiese strategie,
naamlik die Groei-, Werkskeppings- en Herverdelingsprogram (GEAR) - om Shalom
te skep, word ook bespreek. Dit word geargumenteer dat, ten einde 'n situasie te
bereik waar die makro-ekonomiese strategie van Suid Afrika die eksploiterende
verhoudings binne die ekonomie aanspreek, 'n meer kritiese houding ten opsigte van
die waardes en strukture van die vryemark ekonomie benodig word.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/51899 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Landman, Leanne |
| Contributors | Hattingh, J. P., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Philosophy. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 96 p. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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