The intellectual Question
Generalisation should be a beautiful thing. It enables one to run away from the pitfalls of objective analysis while at the same time using the platform to paint a picture that one hopes will be accepted. There are quite a few problems that generalisation brings both upon the author (in this instance) and the target audience.
The first assumption most who undertake this ardous task make is to lull themselves into a belief that non of their subjects are sufficiently informed regarding the subject as to either object or make an alternative view. While this is dangerous, it would appear that most get away with it especially if the subject is not controversial.
The second assumption when you opine is that whatever generalisations you are going to make, actually make logical sense. At the very least there should be some observable phenomena to support your position. I think they call it inductive reasoning if my first year political science still occupies a lofty place in my brain.
The point is ;generalising is a tricky undertaking. More so when your base is made up of misguided opinions. It is therefore understandable when I conclude that those who have made a career out generalising have chosen a harzardous path whose shifting targets more often than not have a tendency to wield nasty surprises.However to their credit, they bring to the fore issues that we as a society might long have tolerated or simply forgotten.
lets get thinking.
This neatly brings me to the issue that caused such a furore last time. The assertion that Zambian intellectuals in particular and African intellectuals in general are lazy. While their counterparts in the West are busy poring over blueprints and fine-tuning ideas in their labs, the Zambian intellectuall would be casually caressing a beer, having knocked off at sixteen and in no hurry to leave. This ofcourse done in the knowledge that come month-end, the account will be credited with the salary. While the American intellectual is in the thick of things testing data, prescribing solutions, churning out proposal after proposal, Zambian counterparts can be seen animatedly talking about football, girls and the latest office gossip. While the Western intellectaul will report for work before time and immediately settle to his work, the Zambian will arrive ten minutes late, bleary eyed, nursing a hideous hangover and will take a further thirty minutes to settle as he tries to greet everyone and give them a snippet of how sick last night was.
The above accusation is not only serious, but if true a serious indictment on our education and the future prosperity that we envisage for our country and continent. It means there is no end in sight to the economic hegemony that the west has propagated on Africa and that the noose of debt and dependence will only get tighter around African throats. Even more tellingly, it is an indication that our educational set-up has failed us and has been failing us since time immemorial.
We cannot trust our schools, the curriculum, the values they inculcate in us and ultimately ourselves. This is a very gloomyif not scary picture.
If to the contrary these assertions are false, then we can surely point to equall or greater achievements by our African intellectuals. Achievements like Wole Soyinka winning the Nobel Prize for literature, ... Well the mind begins to run dry. I can't think of the first plane manufacutred in Africa (apart from the mythical flying reed carpets), a space mission from Africa, an African car model with the prestige and global eminence of say a Mercedes or BMW. I cant.
So maybe there is merit in what Ruwe's friend was saying. Or was he comparing lemons and oranges? I dont know, your comments are welcome.
The first assumption most who undertake this ardous task make is to lull themselves into a belief that non of their subjects are sufficiently informed regarding the subject as to either object or make an alternative view. While this is dangerous, it would appear that most get away with it especially if the subject is not controversial.
The second assumption when you opine is that whatever generalisations you are going to make, actually make logical sense. At the very least there should be some observable phenomena to support your position. I think they call it inductive reasoning if my first year political science still occupies a lofty place in my brain.
The point is ;generalising is a tricky undertaking. More so when your base is made up of misguided opinions. It is therefore understandable when I conclude that those who have made a career out generalising have chosen a harzardous path whose shifting targets more often than not have a tendency to wield nasty surprises.However to their credit, they bring to the fore issues that we as a society might long have tolerated or simply forgotten.
This neatly brings me to the issue that caused such a furore last time. The assertion that Zambian intellectuals in particular and African intellectuals in general are lazy. While their counterparts in the West are busy poring over blueprints and fine-tuning ideas in their labs, the Zambian intellectuall would be casually caressing a beer, having knocked off at sixteen and in no hurry to leave. This ofcourse done in the knowledge that come month-end, the account will be credited with the salary. While the American intellectual is in the thick of things testing data, prescribing solutions, churning out proposal after proposal, Zambian counterparts can be seen animatedly talking about football, girls and the latest office gossip. While the Western intellectaul will report for work before time and immediately settle to his work, the Zambian will arrive ten minutes late, bleary eyed, nursing a hideous hangover and will take a further thirty minutes to settle as he tries to greet everyone and give them a snippet of how sick last night was.
The above accusation is not only serious, but if true a serious indictment on our education and the future prosperity that we envisage for our country and continent. It means there is no end in sight to the economic hegemony that the west has propagated on Africa and that the noose of debt and dependence will only get tighter around African throats. Even more tellingly, it is an indication that our educational set-up has failed us and has been failing us since time immemorial.
We cannot trust our schools, the curriculum, the values they inculcate in us and ultimately ourselves. This is a very gloomyif not scary picture.
If to the contrary these assertions are false, then we can surely point to equall or greater achievements by our African intellectuals. Achievements like Wole Soyinka winning the Nobel Prize for literature, ... Well the mind begins to run dry. I can't think of the first plane manufacutred in Africa (apart from the mythical flying reed carpets), a space mission from Africa, an African car model with the prestige and global eminence of say a Mercedes or BMW. I cant.
So maybe there is merit in what Ruwe's friend was saying. Or was he comparing lemons and oranges? I dont know, your comments are welcome.
Comments
Post a Comment