Masters Degrees (Philosophy)
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Browsing Masters Degrees (Philosophy) by Subject "Africa -- Economic conditions"
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- ItemArmoede in 'n postmodernistiese Afrika(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2004-03) Van Deventer, Francois Abraham; Cilliers, Paul; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Philosophy. Centre for Applied Ethics.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis looks at poverty in the Third World and tries per implication to understand how the economy functions. Finally it suggests solutions for the poverty problem. The first chapter looks at the definition of poverty and why this subject is important to study. It also mentions that there are two ways to look at the poverty problem. The first is the structural thesis and the second the modernisation thesis. The second chapter looks at what the economy is and how it functions. It is emphasised that the economy should be considered to be a complex ecosystem and not a mechanical machine. The third chapter points out that there was a change in focus in the passed 50 years. Now education and information have become much more important. This change is known as postmodernism or globalisation and resulted in the decline of the power of the state. The economic success of countries like the USA, Britain, Japan and Germany is considered in the fourth chapter. The following factors are considered: • The geographic location of a region includes phenomena like the rainfall, natural disasters and mineral wealth. • Historical factors like colonial oppression and the self image of groups. • Diseases and nutrition which makes individuals less productive. • Cultural factors like self-discipline, diligence and an over emphasis of the supernatural • Property rights • Communalism and social capital • State intervention • Technology which makes it possible to produce more with less This chapter also looks at how these different factors interact together and makes the functioning of the complex economic system possible. In the fifth chapter we look at possible solutions for the poverty problem. It is pointed out that the “annexation of the means of production” is no solution. The ignoring of the problem is also rejected as no solution. The renewal of people’s mind is put forward as the solution. The last chapter has a look at the conclusions of the thesis.