Rene Descartes’s famous dictum, “I think, therefore I am,” lies at the foundation of much of Western civilization. It puts reason as the highest value in society. Africa lives by a different philosophy. It’s called ubuntu and goes something like this: “You are, therefore I am.” Or: “I exist to the extent that others acknowledge and respect me.” In Africa compassion rules, not reason. Africans are known for their ukwenana, which means that you give or share something without expecting anything in return. Along the same lines is ukusisa, a type of investment in which wealthy people sacrifice something for those less fortunate. Ubuntu teaches the art of being human. And you don’t have to be African to put this into practice.
You are, therefore I am
More of Today's Solutions
How carbon credits helped unlock the Great Koala National Park in NSW
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM The Great Koala National Park might sound like a place that’s too good to be true, but it ...
Read MoreAstronomers discovered first green star ever. And it’s powered by a dea...
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM For most of human history, the night sky came in a limited palette. Orange for the cooler stars, ...
Read MoreCA to return property to Black family after illegally seizing it 100 years ago
The Chicago suburb of Evanston has launched the country’s first reparations program to compensate for the racism and discrimination Black Americans have historically experienced ...
Read MoreManchester City is the first to offer soccer fans edible coffee cups
Soccer fans rejoice! In many cases, fans have returned to the stands after months and months of empty stadiums. However, returning fans aren’t just ...
Read More
