Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Introduction
- Part 1 A Cognitive Theory of the Emotions: Martha Nussbaum
- Intermezzo: Music and Emotion
- Part 2 Social transformation in South Africa: A narrative
- Part 3 Education for Transformation
- Coda
- Appendix Synopsis of The Manifesto on Values, Education and Democracy
- Endnotes
- Bibliography
- Index
Second Modulation
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 18 February 2020
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Introduction
- Part 1 A Cognitive Theory of the Emotions: Martha Nussbaum
- Intermezzo: Music and Emotion
- Part 2 Social transformation in South Africa: A narrative
- Part 3 Education for Transformation
- Coda
- Appendix Synopsis of The Manifesto on Values, Education and Democracy
- Endnotes
- Bibliography
- Index
Summary
There is a need for us to take a long and hard look at our society. We see in South Africa a degree of materialism, anger and callousness that finds expression in many forms and is to be found in many spheres of our society including our schools. We see also the meanness, fear, indifference and cruelty of some members of our society jealously guarding their privileges. Our schools as an integral part of society have not been spared from the consequences of our unfortunate past.
The new democratic South Africa, supposedly reflecting a transformed society, is more than ten years old. Yet increasingly more and more pointers emerge, indicating a growing impatience and dissatisfaction with the nature and tempo at which the South African society is transforming. Amongst many previously disadvantaged people, unfulfilled expectations give rise to disillusionment, potentially resulting in an impatient reluctance to continue the personal journey of transformation. Conversely, evident amongst many previously advantaged whites is a reluctance to depart from the previous social order. These tendencies are unfortunately supported by first-hand experiences of some of the current consequences of the new social dispensation, generating profound feelings of negativity, pessimism, resistance and revived racism. Recent political and social disintegration in neighbouring countries compounds scepticism and reluctance to embark on the intense personal voyage to a transformed society.
In part two of this book I used my own narrative to illustrate the multifaceted implications of social transformation at a more profound, personal level. I furthermore believe that this narrative reinforces Nussbaum's conception of rationality, by highlighting the intense involvement of the emotions as cognitive guides in the process of personal transformation. I believe that transformation of South Africans at a personal level is not only necessary, but also possible, provided that social transformation is conceived not only in super structural terms, but also as including the equally crucial aspect of personal transformation. Society should not only allow for, but also try to reinforce such transformation. Schools are one of the key sites where social transformation can and should occur. However, the conceptual frameworks of those people involved in education will fundamentally determine the success or failure of education's contribution to the social transformation of South Africa.
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- Publisher: University of South AfricaPrint publication year: 2018