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Decolonising Knowledge: Can Ubuntu Ethics Save Us from Coloniality?

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  • Piet Naude

    (University of Stellenbosch Business School)

Abstract

This essay discusses whether an indigenous African ethic, as expressed in ubuntu, may serve as an example of how to decolonise Western knowledge. In the first part, the key claims of decolonisation of knowledge are set out. The second part analyses three strategies to construct models of ‘African’ (business) ethics, namely transfer, translation and stating of a substantive rival model as contained in ubuntu ethics. After a critical appraisal of this substantive proposal, part three indicates the potential and limitation of the decolonisation project: possibilities lie in the (re)-contextualisation of knowledge, whereas limitations are related to constructing an alternative to what is known as ‘scientific’ knowledge. As far as the author knows, this is the first attempt to frame (business) ethics in terms of the epistemological search for ‘decolonised’ knowledge.

Suggested Citation

  • Piet Naude, 2019. "Decolonising Knowledge: Can Ubuntu Ethics Save Us from Coloniality?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 159(1), pages 23-37, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:159:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1007_s10551-017-3763-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-017-3763-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. David Lutz, 2009. "African Ubuntu Philosophy and Global Management," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 84(3), pages 313-328, February.
    2. David A. McDonald, 2010. "Ubuntu bashing: the marketisation of ‘African values’ in South Africa," Review of African Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(124), pages 139-152, June.
    3. von Hagen,Jürgen & Welker,Michael (ed.), 2014. "Money as God?," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9781107043008, September.
    4. Andrew West, 2014. "Ubuntu and Business Ethics: Problems, Perspectives and Prospects," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 121(1), pages 47-61, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Cited by:

    1. Subhabrata Bobby Banerjee, 2022. "Decolonizing Deliberative Democracy: Perspectives from Below," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 181(2), pages 283-299, November.
    2. Daniel S. Lacerda & Fabio B. Meira & Vanessa Brulon, 2021. "Spatial Ethics Beyond the North–South Dichotomy: Moral Dilemmas in Favelas," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 171(4), pages 695-707, July.

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