Identity and Historicity

Looking at the present situation of African
marginality as the product of historical forces that
will be overcome in history is the aim of this book.
Marginality is one form of existence that history
has built and will break. History is indeterminate
and it does not transform any factual situation into
destiny or fate. Everything happening in history is
contingent and susceptible to change and open to
indefinite interpretations. Africa can overcome its
marginality and integrate the new global order if
Africans themselves take the challenge of education
into the Western rationality, one which dominates
the world scene (capitalist economy, science and
technology), and if they rationalize their societies
by adopting laws obeying both principles of
instrumental reason and principles of democracy and
human rights. This option for the rationalization of
social, economic and political life leads to a
notion of development understood as the liberation
from structures of unfreedom and promotion of
human freedom, both anthropologically and
economically.

Autorentext

Donatien Cicura was born in Walungu (D.R. Congo) in 1971. He has a Master of Theology from Weston School of Theology and a a Doctorate in Philosophy from Boston College. He was Instructor of Philosophy at Saint Pierre Canisius, Boston College. He now teaches Philosophy at Salem State College and Bunker Hill Community College (Massachusetts).

Klappentext

Looking at the present situation of African marginality as the product of historical forces that will be overcome in history is the aim of this book. Marginality is one form of existence that history has built and will break. History is indeterminate and it does not transform any factual situation into destiny or fate. Everything happening in history is contingent and susceptible to change and open to indefinite interpretations. Africa can overcome its marginality and integrate the new global order if Africans themselves take the challenge of education into the Western rationality, one which dominates the world scene (capitalist economy, science and technology), and if they rationalize their societies by adopting laws obeying both principles of instrumental reason and principles of democracy and human rights. This option for the rationalization of social, economic and political life leads to a notion of development understood as the liberation from structures of "unfreedom" and promotion of human freedom, both anthropologically and economically.