Ubuntu, Not the Linux distro, you geeks ;) Options

[*mipadi*]

It's always interesting—and startling—when you come across the actual name of a philosophy (or perhas a better word is "ideology") for something that seems so simple.

I was perusing the 'Net the other day and came across the Wikipedia article for ubuntu, an African ethic or ideology that emphasizes "humanity towards others". The distribution of Linux called Ubuntu is actually based on this ideology. Roughly translated, ubuntu means "I am because we are."

I was shocked almost. An idea that emphasizes humanity through collaboration with others—what an idea! Sure, in the western world, we have the idea of the "Golden rule" and all that, but I don't think we have anything quite like this. To quote the article:

A person with ubuntu is open and available to others, affirming of others, does not feel threatened that others are able and good, for he or she has a proper self-assurance that comes from knowing that he or she belongs in a greater whole and is diminished when others are humiliated or diminished, when others are tortured or oppressed.

I think it's an ideology that would be worth emphasizing more in other non-African cultures. Check it out! It looks fairly interesting.