5 Voices in the dialogue: on morality and values

SOURCE: HSRC Review
OUTPUT TYPE: Journal Article
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2010
TITLE AUTHOR(S): S.Swartz
KEYWORDS: MORALITY, TOWNSHIP, VALUES IN SOCIETY, YOUTH
DEPARTMENT: Equitable Education and Economies (IED)
Print: HSRC Library: shelf number 6517
HANDLE: 20.500.11910/4098
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11910/4098

If you would like to obtain a copy of this Research Output, please contact Hanlie Baudin at researchoutputs@hsrc.ac.za.

Abstract

The moral ecology of South Africa's township youth (Wits University Press, 2010) describes a youth voice on morality. Here the author speaks about its contribution to South Africa's national dialogue. Before we embark on a national dialogue on morality and values, there are important questions to ask, namely: who currently speaks about morality?; what are each group's main messages?; and is what they speak of enough? The educational philosopher Graeme Haydon describes four voices that currently dominate discussions about morality and values. These are the 'lay' or popular voice; the 'research' or academic voice; the 'official' government or political voice, and the 'professional' educational voice. Each is characterised by a particular message. The book, Ikasi, adds a further dimension to these conversations, namely a youth voice. In the African context, there is currently an important conversation underway showing how the indigenous notion of ubuntu may be used as an ethic to govern democracy, public governance, environmental protection, health, welfare, business practice and interpersonal relationships.