Thought Leader

Popular art and the homogenisation of viewing subjects globally

9 June 2019 Bert Olivier

The global hype around the HBO television series, Game of Thrones (GoT), which ended with what was apparently generally perceived by fans as an anticlimax of sorts, made me reflect once again on the pertinence of the intellectual work of that indomitable French thinker, Bernard Stiegler, for grasping the way that contemporary electronic technology is…

comments (0)

| views (5811)

The four dimensions of liberalism

5 June 2019 Avishkar Govender

I have recently suggested that the Democratic Alliance begin using the word ‘liberal’ and the word ‘liberalism’ in their communications. That is that the Democratic Alliance should begin proudly declaring themselves to be Liberal and to adhere to Liberalism. This is because being Liberal and adhering to Liberalism is what will give the Democratic Alliance…

comments (0)

| views (4805)

Do we still need an International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia?

28 May 2019 Psychological Society of South Africa

By Pierre Brouard Do we still need an International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOT), to draw attention to the violence and discrimination experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people and all other people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, and sex characteristics? If this year’s events I attended are…

comments (0)

| views (9724)

Dear Western critics, your fake outrage about Botswana’s elephants is a colonial longing

28 May 2019 Mandela Rhodes Scholars

By Lorato Palesa Modongo “Come Kitty. We want to empower you. No, your mother cannot do this. Your government cannot do this. Time cannot do this… We will teach you how to commune with nature, grow ecologically friendly crops, trade fairly with eco-tourists and receive visitors from United Nations who will clap when you dance.”…

comments (0)

| views (4574)

Another important European conference for Afrikaans-speaking philosophers

28 May 2019 Bert Olivier

About two years ago I wrote a piece for this site on an important conference for Afrikaans in Europe, which was held in Gent, Belgium, by the NAWG (Nederlands-Afrikaanse Wijsgerige Vereniging, or the Netherlands-Afrikaans Philosophical Society). We are at this biennial conference again, this time in Leiden, Holland, from where it will rotate to South…

comments (0)

| views (4585)

Johannesburg

23 May 2019 Avishkar Govender

Johannesburg, Johannesburg – City of Gold Of dreams and lives and stories told Bright lights and brighter paths Fulfilling its destiny through its arts Never asleep, never surrendered Always bustling, always unending Johannesburg, Johannesburg – City of Gold Of heartbreaking heroism and divided goals Far greater the riches held by a few Far simpler the…

comments (0)

| views (3582)

Getting the African economy right

23 May 2019 Vusi Gumede

As we commemorate yet another Africa day, I want to take the opportunity to reflect on the African economy or economies in Africa. To start with, it is clear that part of the reason why development has not been good in Africa is that economies in Africa are constrained by the colonial character of the…

comments (0)

| views (2633)