This question becomes relevant against the backdrop of insinuations that the humanities is marginal to the challenges of Africa and that funding emphasis should be put on science and technology.
As you will know, "development" has been widely critiqued in Africa and elsewhere. So now the question becomes, "What kind of 'development' is appropriate for Africa? The humanities should be able to help answer this this question. Should the focus be on economic development, political development, cultural development, or what? Which alternative of development should be promoted? (market-based, community-based, or what? Who should "be in charge" of such development? government, local community, NGOs, or what? In all likelihood, the "answer" is to customize development to each locality, and this will take a real commitment to "humanize the process!"
The humanities are crucial in allowing us to explore and gain insights from a range of perspectives - all of which sit alongside, underpin and at time lead us to new ways of addressing societal issues of structure, economy and materiality.
Dear Prof. Sheridan you hold the distinction of being the first to respond to the above question. There is no doubt that my long-winding question can be reduced to issue of what manner of development Africa ought to pursue. On the other hand, I suppose that development is an all encompassing idea which must pursued in a integrated fashion. Thus, there can be no exclusive focus on either economic or cultural development. I certainly agree that we must customize development to suit Africa's specificity and uniqueness , but the devil is in the details.
Humanities brings about total development of the person. Science and technology alone can not lead a community towards development. Science and technology may lead to growth but not development.
Development requires not only material wellbeing but also freedom from any impediments towards that could retard a persons ability to be creative which is now recognize as the highest level of intelligence. Creativity that could allow a person to face any form of challenges in life.
My findings also support this position. It is human that will use science in an humanistic way. Otherwise, science will destroy humanity.
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