Session #25 - The philosophy of Ubuntu

“Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.”
― Nelson Mandela

(In english!)

Throughout history, human societies have wrestled with division. When identity hardens into polarization, coexistence becomes fragile. Differences can escalate into civil conflict, deepening distrust and resentment that often persist for generations.

Yet history also offers rare examples of a different path: moments when cycles of hatred did not spiral into further violence, but instead turned toward reconciliation.

In this session we will explore Ubuntu — the African ethical philosophy that shaped the moral framework of leaders such as Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu.

Ubuntu — “I am because we are” — proposes that identity is not purely individual but relational. Even those we oppose remain part of our shared collective. This insight may be the hidden condition behind successful reconciliations.

Beyond South Africa’s transition from apartheid, we can examine other cases of reconciliation: the American post–Civil War, the reconciliation between France and Germany, Japan’s postwar transformation, and the peace process in Northern Ireland.

Introduction of guests (15 minutes)
We start with a short introduction of the guests.

Kérdések (1 óra 45 perc)

1. According to Ubuntu why is hope better than optimism?
2. Are we living in a time of self-respect?
3. Can Ubuntu be applied to someone who opposes Ubuntu?
4. What happens when “we” includes people who reject your values?
5. How does Ubuntu work when conflict is on-going?
6. Can the strength of the collective sometimes go the wrong direction? How to avoid that?
7. Have you put yourself in the shoes of someone you deeply reject?
8. How can we compare the european reconciliation with the South African or North-Irish reconciliations?
9. What is more important for reconciliation: leadership or strong institutions?
10. Can forgiveness be compatible with justice all the time? Is there a point where forgiveness becomes injustice?
11. Why is truth so important in reconciliation?
12. Can reconciliation hold when material inequality persists?
13. Can ubuntu help to undo polarization?
14. How can we apply ubuntu to social media?
15. Is ubuntu a way of individual-to-social maturity?
16. Is polarization a symptom of moral seriousness — or moral immaturity?
17. Is polarization driven more by inequality or by identity?

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