Bernard Magubane’s critique of anthropology in southern Africa: an introductory essay

ABSTRACT

This essay is an attempt to piece together the fundamentals of Bernard Magubane’s critique of anthropology in southern Africa. The point is not to berate the discipline of anthropology, but to discuss Magubane’s work in relation to it. The essay comprises three main parts. First, it examines Magubane’s critique of southern African anthropology in a colonial situation – particularly in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Second, it assesses the usefulness of anthropological notions of pluralism and ‘tribalism’ in explaining conflicts in Africa. The remainder of the essay contends with anthropological themes such as social change and ‘modernisation’ in southern Africa. Generally, anthropology had problems at two levels: political and epistemological. Politically, anthropology was a handmaiden of colonialism and imperialism; and its main flaw was to study southern African societies outside of history and context. Epistemologically, anthropology is a discipline founded on alterity, that is, on studying the cultural Other.     

朴学思潮与清代学术

清中前期,朴学激成时尚。但相比两汉之经学、魏晋之玄学、隋唐之佛学、宋明之理学,惟独清代没有自己独立的哲学精神,即便如此,仍无从阻遏学术上的繁花似锦,形成了一马当先、万马奔腾的昂扬之势,这个“一马”就是经学、考证史学;“万马”就是包括小学、音韵学、金石学、校勘学、目录学、方志学、天文学、算学、舆地学在内的百艺群科。究其原因,朴学思潮的推动居功乃大,这主要获益于朴学思潮的学术目标、学术理路以及相应而达的学术方法。     

中国传统吉祥图案产生的文化意蕴

中国传统吉祥图案的寓意是在传统文化的大环境中被强化的。在装饰艺术中,无论是图案纹样还是装饰绘画,其寓意所表达的中心都与“吉祥”有关,这是一个延绵千万年的永恒性主题。“吉祥”原意是美好的预兆,吉者福善之事,祥者嘉庆之征。《周易·系辞》有“吉事有祥”之句,《庄子》也有“虚室生白,吉祥止止”之说。由此可见,吉祥是对未来的希望和祝福,具有理想的色彩。中国吉祥图案因物喻意,物吉图祥,将情景融为一体,因而主题鲜明突出,构思巧妙,形成了独特浓郁的民族色彩和个性。     

Gift Giving and Corruption

When individuals exchange gifts, social bonds are strengthened and reciprocity is created. If the gift and the reciprocation both come from private resources, it is clearly a gift. If what is reciprocated after a gift is given comes from an organization, or is a government resource rather than from “one’s own pocket” then it is most likely a bribe. This study reviews the anthropological literature on gift giving and constructs a typology for examining the gift/bribe distinction in public administration. This classification helps distinguish analytically among different gift practices and clarify conceptual ambiguity of the terms gift and bribe.     

走出西方语境的中国哲学

西方哲学对中国哲学的深刻影响使得中国哲学家在研究自己的哲学时总是处于一种矛盾的心态之中:一方面,作为一门学科的中国哲学是根据西方哲学的模式建立起来的,这就使得中国哲学研究往往无法完全摆脱西方哲学表达方式的影响;另一方面,中国哲学自身的强大传统又使得中国哲学家对自己的思想家园难以释怀。中国哲学如要走出西方语境,得到西方哲学家的更多关注,只有通过分析中西两种哲学相互影响的历史、揭示中国哲学与西方哲学在许多方面具有的相似之处才有可能。     

哲学咨询的实质及其在中国发展的障碍

哲学咨询是咨询师用哲学理论改善来访者心境的活动。哲学咨询的主要局限体现在只用哲学理论改变来访者的认知。哲学咨询实践者声称哲学咨询是对苏格拉底传统的回归,但苏格拉底所行之事是证伪某些片面之见而非证实某种观念,他也没有像哲学咨询师那样利用智慧谋取金钱。哲学咨询只是一条从象牙塔通向菜市场的新建通道,并无丰富的实践历史经验可以借鉴。虽然当前欧美哲学咨询运动声势浩大,然而哲学咨询行业本身受到许多质疑,其在中国的发展还有不少障碍。     

A preliminary study into the impact of using three-dimensional models in forensic anthropology learning and teaching

Forensic anthropology has traditionally relied on two-dimensional (2D) images, such as photographs and sketches, to perform analyses, and disseminate findings. However, as 3D imaging technology advances, it has become more widely implemented into forensic anthropology analysis and practice. Teaching and learning in forensic anthropology still often relies on 2D images, but increasingly three-dimensional (3D) models are available to be used by students training in anatomy and osteology. Additionally, 3D models have been found to be beneficial to comprehension in other contexts within forensic anthropology, such as in the courtroom. The use of these models in the teaching of forensic anthropology is not yet widely implemented and more importantly, the impact on learning is not yet understood. The use of 3D imaging and visualisation in other educational contexts has seen positive results, for example in medical training. To explore this further, a study was conducted using an online activity to compare the comprehension scores of students educated using 2D textbook style images or 3D models on Sketchfab. The results showed that the use of 3D images was not detrimental to comprehension. Students using the 3D models were more consistent in their performance and reported an increase in confidence regardless of prior experience. The results of this study are of particular importance when distance learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic which means that students cannot always learn in a laboratory environment.     

关于科学发展观的哲学解读

科学发展观既具有丰厚的实践基础,又具有坚实的哲学基础。唯物史观是科学发展观的哲学基础,应当站在历史唯物主义的哲学高度理解和坚持“以人为本”,坚持“以人为本”实质上是“以人民为本”,就是在中国经济社会发展中,坚持以人民为主体、以人民为动力和以人民为目的。准确把握和树立科学发展观应当坚持运用唯物辩证的科学方法论。     

现行哲学教科书存在的几个问题辨析

目前我国大部分哲学教科书对哲学的定义、唯物辩证法、认识过程第二次飞跃的表述存在不少逻辑问题,前后自相矛盾。教科书一方面把认识本身的相对正确当作第二次飞跃的条件;另一方面在讲认识和实践辩证关系时,把认识的相对独立性作为重要的部分进行介绍,其中的一点就是认识对实践的能动的指导作用,并没有说只有正确认识才能指导实践,而是就认识的全体而言的。这里显然存在自相矛盾的问题。把两个命题放在一起作为唯物辩证法的标准定义,是不能同时成立的,相互之间存在否证的关系。唯物辩证法的三条基本规律有必要改为原理,才比较合适。即唯物辩证法是由一系列基本原理和范畴构成的严密的逻辑系统和理论体系。对于哲学的定义,大部分教科书都从哲学与世界观的关系角度进行规定,把哲学和世界观这两个命题放在一块当作哲学的对象性定义是有问题的,哲学应是关于世界的学问。     

解读《1844年经济学哲学手稿》把握公安机关人性化执法的内涵

马克思在《1844年经济学哲学手稿》中从现实的人出发,阐述了生命个体存在的第一需要不可分割的统一整体。人的需要是人从事一切活动的原初动因,正是通过生产实践活动,人的需要才能够得到实现和满足,同时使人的内在本质力量得到确证,并且在这一过程中产生社会关系和国家,并形成人类社会。人的需要包含着在自然需要的基础上形成的社会需要和精神需要,三位一体的人的需要构成了完整的人性。这部著作是我们深刻把握公安机关人性化执法的科学根据,公安机关人性化执法的本质就是满足人的需要的活动。