Koers : Bulletin for Christian Scholarship = Koers : Bulletin vir Christelike Wetenskap - Volume 72, Issue 4, January 2007

The historical background of the postmodern view on normativity and on a Christian worldview

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Usually the criticism of Christian thinkers on postmodernism includes the notion that its representatives are normative relativists and that they furthermore do not apply relativism to their own viewpoint. Postmodernists in turn regard a Christian world-view as absolutist - a legalistic, exclusivist, marginalising and oppressive ideology. This article intends to make a small contribution to this debate. As an introduction a brief characteristic of the contemporary postmodern spirit is provided. It is indicated that the spirit of a period is determined by its conception of normativity or its idea of lawfulness. This is followed by a historical survey to trace the road which subjectivist Western thought about normativity had travelled until it reached radical relativism in postmodernism. The question is then asked whether postmodernism can really maintain its historistic relativism. As an alternative to such a viewpoint a Reformational worldview suggests the stability of God's creational ordinances. At the same time the postmodern warning that worldviews can be or become legalistic, oppressive ideologies should be taken seriously. Specific trends that may endanger a Christian world-view are therefore identified. In conclusion it is indicated how, through a careful listening to God's Word, these threads can be counteracted.

Gewoonlik sluit die kritiek van Christelike denkers op die postmodernisme in dat die verteenwoordigers van hierdie stroming in normatiewe relativisme verval, maar dit nie konsekwent op hulle eie visie wil toepas nie. Omgekeerd is postmoderniste van mening dat 'n Christelike lewensvisie absolutisties is - 'n legalistiese, eksklusiwistiese, marginaliserende en onderdrukkende ideologie. Hierdie artikel wil 'n klein bydrae tot hierdie debat maak. Ter inleiding word 'n kort karakteristiek van die postmoderne gees van die kontemporêre tyd gegee. Daar word ook aangetoon dat die gees van 'n tyd veral bepaal word deur sy idee van normatiwiteit of wetmatigheid. Dit word gevolg deur 'n historiese oorsig, wat aantoon hoe die subjektiwisties-georiënteerde Westerse denke uiteindelik op die radikale normatiewe relativisme van die postmodernisme uitgeloop het. Vervolgens word die vraag gestel of die historistiese uitgangspunt van die postmodernisme werklik konsekwent gehandhaaf kan word. As alternatief op so 'n visie word die Reformatoriese lewensvisie se standpunt oor die konstantheid van God se skeppingsordeninge voorgestel. Omdat die postmodernisme se waarskuwing oor legalisme en verideologisering nie ligtelik opgeneem mag word nie, word sekere gevare geïdentifiseer wat 'n Christelike lewensvisie kan bedreig. Ter afsluiting word enkele moontlikhede geopper oor hoe sulke bedreigings deur middel van 'n fyner luister na God se Woord voorkom kan word.

Vooronderstellings en die uitdaging daarvan aan objektiwiteit in die laat-moderne wetenskapsfilosofie: oorsake en moontlike oplossings

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Die geskiedenis van die laat-moderne wetenskapsfilosofie word gekenmerk deur die groeiende klem op vooronderstellings wat hand aan hand gaan met 'n groeiende relatiwistiese houding ten opsigte van die moontlikheid van wetenskaplike objektiwiteit. Aspekte van laasgenoemde historiese ontwikkeling word in sommige van die belangrikste wetenskapsfilosowe van die twintigste eeu nagespeur. 'n Analise van die moontlike oorsake van die verskynsel word ook gegee. Die sterk posisie van die vryheidspool van die humanistiese grondmotief vereis 'n wetenskapskonsepsie waarin die skeppende voorwaardes van die kennende agent 'n toenemend deurslaggewende rol speel. Twee "geneesmiddels" vir 'n meer gebalanseerde verstaan van die rol van vooronderstellings word aangedui. Die eerste een het te make met die erkenning van 'n breë verskeidenheid ideologiese standpunte wat voortspruit uit verskillende religieuse verbintenisse. Die tweede een stel voor dat 'n universele orde vir die werklikheid erken word, wat twee konsekwensies veronderstel. Eerstens, ons vooronderstellings het nie die vermoë om ons wetenskaplike waarnemings van die werklikheid volkome te determineer nie. Tweedens, wetenskaplike navorsing volg nie net ons vooronderstellingsraamwerke nie, maar volg 'n strukturele orde. Die artikel sluit af met 'n aantal opmerkings oor die aard van wetenskaplike objektiwiteit.

The history of late-modern philosophy of science introduces us to a growing emphasis on presuppositions accompanied by a growing relativistic attitude concerning the possibility of scientific objectivity. Aspects of the latter historical developments are traced in some of the most important philosophers of science of the 20th century. An analysis of the possible causes of the phenomenon is also provided. The predominance of the freedom-pole of the humanist ground motive requires a conception of science in which the creative presuppositions of the knowing agent play an increasingly crucial role. Two "remedies" for a more balanced understanding of the role of presuppositions are indicated. The first one has to do with the recognition of a broad variety of ideological standpoints, stemming from different religious commitments. The second one recommends the recognition of the universal order for reality, which implies two consequences. First, our presuppositions do not have the power of determining our scientific observations of reality completely. Second, scientific research does not proceed only according to our presuppositional frameworks but follows a structural order. A few reflections on the nature of scientific objectivity conclude the article.

Practice theoretical markers for effective and responsible integration of visual elements in the communicative structure of reformed preaching

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In this article an attempt is made to identify some essential practice theoretical markers for the introduction of visual elements in the communicative structure of reformed preaching. Introduction of visual elements is complicated in the context of the reformed tradition not only by this tradition's resistance to the use of visual elements in the liturgical environment, but also by unfamiliarity with the dynamic involved when visual elements are employed in the communicative process. In answering the first challenge posed in the foregoing article regarding the effective integration of visual elements in the communicative structure of preaching, an attempt is made to indicate a praxis in which introduction of visual elements will not disturb the essential structure of preaching (God speaking his Word) and will not curb the believer's primary instrument of perception (looking further into the spiritual dimension through faith). In answering the second challenge posed in the foregoing article regarding responsible integration of visual elements in the communicative structure of preaching, an attempt is made to indicate a praxis in which a distinction is made between visualisation that draws the listener / perceiver into earthbound thought or lack of reference to real life situations on the one hand and visualisation that focuses the listener / perceiver in faith on God and anchors the contents of revealed truth in real life situations.

In hierdie artikel word gepoog om enkele praktykteoretiese merkers te identifiseer vir die komplekse terrein waarop die prediker hom begewe wanneer hy visuele elemente by die kommunikatiewe struktuur van prediking wil betrek. Integrasie van visuele elemente in die kommunikatiewe struktuur van prediking word in die konteks van die reformatoriese tradisie gekompliseer deur sowel hierdie tradisie se weerstand teen die gebruik van visuele elemente in die erediens, as die onbekendheid met die dinamika wat deur die visuele in die kommunikatiewe proses ontketen word. In antwoord op die uitdaging wat in die voorafgaande artikel ten opsigte van effektiewe integrasie van visuele elemente in die kommunikatiewe struktuur van prediking gestel is, word gepoog om 'n weg aan te dui waarin integrasie van visuele elemente nie die wesenlike struktuur van prediking (wat daarin bestaan dat God aan die woord kom) versteur nie en nie die primêre waarnemingsinstrument van geloof (wat verder laat kyk tot in die geestelike dimensie) afstomp nie. In antwoord op die uitdaging wat in die voorafgaande artikel ten opsigte van verantwoordelike integrasie van visuele elemente in die kommunikatiewe struktuur van prediking gestel is, word gepoog om 'n weg aan te dui waarin onderskeid gemaak kan word tussen visualisering wat die hoorder / waarnemer enersyds in begrensdheid of ankerloosheid kan laat verval en andersyds in geloof op God rig en die werklikheid van die geloofsinhoude in die eie lewe laat sien.

Die idee van 'n linguale ekonomie

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'n Aantal filosofiese begrippe in die taalkunde kan gekonseptualiseer word as "primitiewe" of grondbegrippe. Sulke begrippe is gewoonlik histories betekenisvol: vergelyk die konsepte linguale sisteem, posisie en konstantheid, asook die linguale idees van diskoerstipe, tekstipe en aanvaarbaarheid. Ons kan sulke nosies as konstitutiewe begrippe of regulatiewe idees beskou. Hierdie artikel handel oor die regulatiewe idee van linguale ekonomie, en die hantering daarvan in die werk van die etnometodoloë oor beurtwisseling. Soos in die geval van ander linguistiese primitiewe, dra hierdie idee betekenisvol by tot ons begrip van die linguale. Die artikel verwys na analises wat insig gee in die normatiewe dimensies van ons kommunikatiewe vermoë om as linguale subjekte op te tree in die sfeer van gesprekvoering. Hierdie analises neem ons veel verder as vroeëre analises wat geïmpliseer het dat gesprekke deur hulle lukraak koers gekenmerk word, en altyd maar op die rand van chaos beweeg. Hulle maak dit moontlik om voort te bou op die merkwaardige verklarings van onder andere linguale distribusie, gelykheid en skaarste waarvoor die etnometodoloë ons oë oopgemaak het. Die artikel argumenteer dat hierdie regulatiewe linguistiese idees die struktuur van die linguale aspek van die werklikheid betekenisvol vir ons ontsluit.

A number of philosophical concepts in linguistics may be conceptualised as primitives or founding concepts. Many of these are historically significant; cf. the concepts lingual system; lingual position and sequence, lingual constancy. Less obvious primitives are ideas of spheres of discourse, text type and acceptability. Generally, such foundational notions may be characterised either as constitutive concepts or as regulative ideas. This article will discuss one such regulative linguistic idea, viz. lingual economy, especially as this was articulated in the work of the ethnomethodologists on turn-taking. Like many other linguistic primitives, this idea constitutes a significant advance in our understanding of things lingual. The analyses referred to below give insight into the normative dimensions of our communicative ability to function as lingual subjects within the material lingual sphere of conversation. These analyses constitute an advance on earlier analyses of conversation, where the overall impression is that it is "random", forever edging towards indeterminacy and chaos. We may currently build upon the remarkable explanations, first given by ethnomethodology, for lingual distribution, equality, lingually scarce resource, and so forth. The article will argue that these relate to significant regulative ideas that disclose the structure of the lingual dimension of reality.

"A high degree of understanding and tolerance" : changing thoughts on the modern reformed church song

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Currently, churches worldwide are experiencing an unparalleled increase in new hymns. Consequently, the requirements of the modern congregational song are much more challenging and demanding. Although the principles of music theory remain a primary criterion for the evaluation of the congregational song, aspects concerning the spiritual requirements, musical taste and culture of the modern church member are becoming increasingly relevant when thinking about the congregational song.

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In this article the author gives a general overview as to the nature of the modern church song against the background of liturgical renewal within the reformed tradition. The profile of the postmodern church member as regards spiritual needs, musical taste and culture is outlined and connected with the current sensitivity of spirituality and emotional experience through worship and song. Lastly a connection is made between the current trends of hymnological thought and the reformed principles. It is argued that greater tolerance and understanding can lead towards a reforming, rather than a reformed attitude towards the modern congregational song. The discussion is illustrated with examples from the "Liedboek van die kerk" (2001).

Wêreldwyd beleef kerke 'n ongekende toename in nuwe kerkliedere en kerkliedstyle. Gevolglik word die vereistes wat aan die moderne kerklied gestel word toenemend uitdagend en veeleisend. Alhoewel die musiekteoretiese beginsels steeds 'n belangrike rol speel, word aspekte soos die behoeftes en musieksmaak van die moderne lidmaat toenemend deel van die moderne denke oor die kerklied.

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In hierdie artikel word besin oor die veranderende denke rondom die gereformeerde kerklied. Die outeur beskryf die algemene agtergrond van die moderne kerklied binne die konteks van liturgiese vernuwing en die gereformeerde tradisie. Die profiel van die moderne lidmaat word geskets ten opsigte van kultuur, musieksmaak en spirituele behoeftes en verbind met die hedendaagse sensitiwiteit vir emosionele en spirituele belewenis deur middel van die kerklied. Ten slotte word die verband tussen die hedendaagse himnologiese denke en dié van die Reformasie aangetoon. Die gevolgtrekking waartoe gekom word, is dat akkommoderende denke dit moontlik maak om 'n reformerende eerder as 'n gereformeerde benadering tot die kerklied te kan volg. Die bespreking word toegelig met voorbeelde uit die "Liedboek van die kerk" (2001).

''The unmentioned story'' : a case study of the manifestation of assets in a toddler with spina bifida miëlomeningoseel

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In South Africa a few major discourses with regard to disability can be distinguished. Although these discourses construct disability differently, three of them - the lay, charity and medical discourses - tend to view disability negatively. This article endeavours to challenge the stereotypical ''picture'' of a person with a disability. By conducting an intrinsic case study the unique intrapersonal assets of a boy (who has a physical disability, spina bifida) is identified. An asset-based approach accompanied the research design as a theoretical framework in order to explore whether positive aspects of this boy's life-world could be identified. This article identifies and embraces the positive side of living with a physical disability and illustrates ways in which positive constructions of an individual with disabilities can be pursued.

Verskeie diskoerse oor mense met gestremdhede figureer in Suid-Afrika. Alhoewel elke diskoers gestremdheid verskillend konstrueer, beskou die leke, welsyns- en mediese diskoerse gestremdheid as primêr 'n negatiewe verskynsel. Hierdie artikel stel dit ten doel om die stereotipiese beeld van 'n persoon met 'n gestremdheid te konfronteer en moontlik te wysig. 'n Intrinsieke gevallestudie is toegepas ten einde die unieke intrapersoonlike eienskappe van 'n kleuter met spina bifida miëlomeningoseel te identifiseer. 'n Bategebaseerde benadering het die studie vergesel met die doel om moontlike bates binne die leefwêreld van hierdie kleuter bloot te lê. Hierdie artikel identifiseer en wys die positiewe kant van 'n lewe met 'n fisieke gestremdheid uit en illustreer ook die wyses waarop sodanige positiewe konstruksies uitgesoek kan word.

Faktore wat die fasilitering van rolspelers in omgewingsbestuur bepaal - enkele filosofies-historiese gedagtes met die Merafong-gebied as voorbeeld

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Die artikel handel in wese oor die fundamentele kenmerke van deelnemers binne 'n demokratiesgerigte proses van omgewingsbestuur. 'n Poging word aangewend om binne die Wonderfonteinspruit (WFS) opvanggebied in die Merafong-omgewing enkele historiese kenmerke van deelnemerskap uit te wys en te analiseer. Wat uit albei hierdie fasette van bespreking blyk, is dat deelnemerskap uit primêre deelnemers (veral regeringsgerigte organisasies) en sekondêre deelnemers (veral nie-regeringsgerigte organisasies) bestaan waarin albei groepe genoegsame historiese toeligting kan bied waarom hulle as die besoedelaars, die geaffekteerdes of deelnemendes / belanghebbendes rakende dié omgewingscenario beskou kan word. Om die bespreking rakende deelnemerskap aan omgewingsbestuur mee af te rond, is internasionale en filosofiese modelle en perspektiewe oor deelnemerskap ook ingebou vir die verkryging van 'n groter geheelbeskouing van wat deelnemerskap behels, en hoe dit oor die langtermyn betekenisvol toegepas kan word. Hierdie toepassings, gereflekteer teen wat in die verlede minder sinvol gedoen is, sou betekenisvol binne toekomstige gesprekke rakende die WFS-opvanggebied aangewend kon word as deel van 'n benadering van omgewingsgeregtigheid en sinvolle omgewingsremediëring, vergoeding en regulering.

In essence, the article covers some fundamental principles of stakeholdership within a democratic process of environmental management. An effort is also made to point out several historical features of stakeholdership within the Wonderfonteinspruit (WFS) Catchment in the Merafong study area. Both these facets in the discussion accentuate stakeholdership as being primary participants (especially organisations that are government directed) and secondary participants (especially non-governmental organisations) in which both groups can reflect sufficient historical evidence in this economic environment to identify them as either the injurers, the injured or the participants / interested parties. To meaningfully conclude the discussion of stakeholdership in environmental management, some international and philosophical models and perspectives were also utilised to obtain a broader holistic perspective of a meaningful long-term stakeholder partnership. These applications, as reflected against a less fruitful awareness of the environmental practices in the past, can be applied efficiently in future stakeholder discussions regarding the WFS area as part of an approach featuring environmental justice and environmental remediation, compensation and monitoring.

Chris Brink het na 'n naelbytstryd rektor en visekanselier van Stellenbosch geword. Sy termyn was gekenmerk deur 'n paar moeilike, dikwels kontroversiële sake, en sy besluit om die Universiteit te verlaat om 'n visekanselierspos by die Newcastle Universiteit in die Verenigde Koninkryk op te neem, het tot heelwat spekulasie gelei.

Professor Botha boasts an impressive publication record on metaphors and the theory of metaphors. This publication is the culmination of her research into this fascinating and most important field of study.

Lots of studies, reports and other scientific work from a variety of disciplines preceded the 1994 democratic South Africa in order to "predict" what will happen in a "new South Africa". Also, quite some academic and scientific work with the "new democracy" as their focus emerged post-1994 - the primary aim was to "explain" what happened.

Praeg defines violence in a way that leaves one to ponder the real value of violence, or the futility thereof. In essence, Praeg endeavours to expose the constructive and destructive profiles of violence - both as an attempt to bring about change (whether for the better, remains to be seen) or as a result of interference with traditional ways of regulating societies and those who live and work within them.

This publication - in actual fact rather a monograph - addresses issues related to the theme of the restoration of dignity in South African society. The author looks into the topics generally attached to discussions on human dignity rather than focusing on the normative content and meaning of the illusive term dignity.

Scandinavia have a presence and interest in South Africa dating back to the early years of colonial settlement. Their engagement with the African continent also includes musical performance. S.H. Pellisier, an Afrikaner, visited Sweden in 1912 where he observed local folk dancing. His admiration for Swedish nationalistic sentiment prompted him to introduce "Swedish games" on his return to South Africa.

Die boek sal nie net byval vind by diegene wat in geskiedenis belangstel nie. Daar is ook pitkos vir die teoloog, filosoof, leier en politikus - daar is lewenswaarhede en lesse om te leer; karaktereienskappe wat bewonder moet word en ook swakhede waarteen gewaak moet word. Hierdie boek is 'n wonderlike geskenk aan 'n ander of aan jouself. Enige boekrak kan baat by hierdie interessante werk.

Alfabetiese outeursindeks / Alphabetical authors' index

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Navorsingsartikels / Scholarly articles

Onderwerpsindeks

Subject index Jg. / Vol. 72 (1-4) 2007