The Philosophical Background of Nyerere’s Concept of Human Dignity

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ARJHSS

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A critical reading of Nyerere‟s works and speeches shows that Nyerere is very much aware that human dignity has to do with the status of human beings entitling them to respect; a highest value that affects human beings at the deepest possible level; a highest value constitutive of personal identity, simultaneously in the self and in all other human beings; a principle that affirms the fundamental value of every human being, or of human beings as such; and which enjoys general acceptance all around the globe as a basic ethical principle. The purpose of this paper is to discern the sources of the rich idea of human dignity in Nyerere‟s speeches and writings. It aims at discerning the philosophical background of Nyerere‟s concept of human dignity, that is, the extent to which Nyerere is familiar with the evolved concept of human dignity. It traces Nyerere‟s educational background and cites the sources of his philosophical ideas, that is, the philosophers whom he read and who influenced his future philosophy. In this case, we see philosophical influence on Nyerere‟s concept of human dignity from the Selected Writings, his own Lecturers at Edinburgh University, the Fabian society, Christianity and finally from the African Traditional society

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Human dignity, fundamental value, education, Christianity, African traditional society, Fabian society

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