Anton Van Niekerk
Stellenbosch University, Philosophy, Faculty Member
Résumé/Abstract Dans le cadre de l'éthique de l'expérimentation sur les embryons, l'A. étudie l'argument selon lequel le potentiel de personnalité propre à l'embryon lui confère un statut moral significatif.... more
Résumé/Abstract Dans le cadre de l'éthique de l'expérimentation sur les embryons, l'A. étudie l'argument selon lequel le potentiel de personnalité propre à l'embryon lui confère un statut moral significatif. Examinant la question d'un prétendu droit à la vie, l'A. soulève le problème de la protection de l'embryon en tant que privilège (benefit)
Research Interests:
Research Interests: Philosophy, Applied Ethics, Behavior, Philosophy of Medicine, Economic Growth, and 15 moreAfrica, Culture, Developing Countries, Cameroon, Health, Medicine, Disease Outbreaks, Humans, Attitudes, Program Design, Pandemic, Indigenous, Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, cultural characteristics, and HIV infections
Act 92 of 1996, the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act, seeks to promote female autonomy. The Act makes no reference to the nature of the abortus – implying its moral insignificance. Utilitarian arguments on the value of life strongly... more
Act 92 of 1996, the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act, seeks to promote female autonomy. The Act makes no reference to the nature of the abortus – implying its moral insignificance. Utilitarian arguments on the value of life strongly support this position. Utilitarians argue that neither belonging to the human species, nor possession of the potential to develop into a person, is a significant intrinsic characteristic in determining the value of life. For them the entrance requirement to any conception of moral significance is sentience – the ability to suffer. Full moral significance is only accorded to ‘persons'. A person is someone who has attained a sufficient level of self-awareness to have an interest in the continuance of its existence. This develops some time after birth. ‘Conservatives' argue for conception as the moral cut-off point after which termination is morally unacceptable; ‘liberals' hold that there is no such prenatal point. Both of these notions a...
Research Interests:
Research Interests: Cultural Studies, Islamic Law, Constitutional Law, Gender Studies, Anthropology, and 15 moreEthics, Applied Ethics, Bioethics, Human Rights Law, International Law, Child Development, Gender and Sexuality, Legal Theory, Female Circumcision, Male Circumcision, Female genital cutting, Bodily Integrity, Ethics In Medical Practise, Intactivism, and Male Genital Cutting
This is a book about several specific and serious challenges that bioethics has to deal with in our time, particularly in the South African context. From an almost non-existent ‘science’ at the beginning of the 20th century, not receiving... more
This is a book about several specific and serious challenges that bioethics has to deal with in our time, particularly in the South African context. From an almost non-existent ‘science’ at the beginning of the 20th century, not receiving systematic reflection in intellectual circles such as universities, bioethics has grown with unprecedented strides and has established itself across the world as a major field of study. This book is an acknowledgement of the relevance and actuality of this development of bioethics internationally, and particularly in South Africa. In addition, it is an inter- and multidisciplinary composition of contributors and a significant reflection of the interdisciplinary approach that is universally required for bioethical work. The contributions also testify to a notable diversity in recently researched issues and in the backgrounds of the contributors.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
The author provides a philosophical and moral evaluation of a number of arguments against and in favour of posthumanism. Some of the arguments explored are: the claim that current evils are necessary to maintain our humanity; Sandel’s... more
The author provides a philosophical and moral evaluation of a number of arguments against and in favour of posthumanism. Some of the arguments explored are: the claim that current evils are necessary to maintain our humanity; Sandel’s association of radical enhancement with the striving for mastery and perfection; psychological concerns about posthumanism; the “simple conservative argument” (Buchanan); the idea of unlimited longevity; as well as possible issues in the relationship between unenhanced people and posthumans. The author defends the idea that radical enhancements are justified in view of the possible lag of natural selection to select desirable/necessary current human traits. He also rejects the idea that “human nature” ought to be regarded as a moral desideratum. His conclusion is that the possibility of radical (also biomedical) human enhancements does not warrant blanket moral approval or disapproval. We ought to see what specific possibilities arise, and then judge t...
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
CITATION: Van Niekerk, A. 2017. Vriendskap teenoor vyandskap in taalbeplanning vir die Universiteit Stellenbosch : die bydrae van Leon de Stadler. Stellenbosch Papers in Linguistics Plus, 53:221-223, doi:10.5842/53-0-747.
Research Interests: Philosophy and Taalbeleid
Research Interests:
Page 1. Hans-Georg Gadamer 1900-2002: A tribute from South Africa An ton A van Niek erk Phi los o phy De part ment Uni ver sity of Stellenbosch Pri vate Bag X1 Matieland. 7602 E-mail <aavn@sun.ac.za> Ab stract Three... more
Page 1. Hans-Georg Gadamer 1900-2002: A tribute from South Africa An ton A van Niek erk Phi los o phy De part ment Uni ver sity of Stellenbosch Pri vate Bag X1 Matieland. 7602 E-mail <aavn@sun.ac.za> Ab stract Three ...
Research Interests:
Abstract: Die ou Suid-Afrika was allerweë beskou as die "muishond van die wêreld". 'n Mens sou daaroor kon argumenteer of dié benaming 'n billike en geslaagde metafoor was. Muishonde is diertjies wat nie deur die... more
Abstract: Die ou Suid-Afrika was allerweë beskou as die "muishond van die wêreld". 'n Mens sou daaroor kon argumenteer of dié benaming 'n billike en geslaagde metafoor was. Muishonde is diertjies wat nie deur die mensdom hoog geag word nie. Die rede daarvoor is dat hulle " ...
Research Interests:
Abstract: This article investigates the question as to whether the concern with "quality of life" is worthwhile. It is well known that quality of life issues are quite prominent in the field of Bioethics, where it normally crops... more
Abstract: This article investigates the question as to whether the concern with "quality of life" is worthwhile. It is well known that quality of life issues are quite prominent in the field of Bioethics, where it normally crops up in situations where questions concerning possible ...
Research Interests: History and Psychology
The article is an analysis of the importance of Socrates in the history of philosophy, with special reference to his renowned dictum: 'the unexamined life is not worth living'. The author argues that Socrates' importance is... more
The article is an analysis of the importance of Socrates in the history of philosophy, with special reference to his renowned dictum: 'the unexamined life is not worth living'. The author argues that Socrates' importance is the result of establishing Socratic dialogue as a manner of interaction, to be distinguished from debate.The differences between debate and dialogue are analysed at length. Whereas debates are engaged into in order to establish already fixed positions, and are only meant to bring opponents around to one's own position, a dialogue starts with the docta ignorantia, displays a willingness to learn, follows the argument wherever it leads, and is prepared to progress to a position not shared by any dialogue partner initially. The author close-reads the passage in the Apologia from which the dictum in the title derives. He also discusses ways in which the statement has been appraised in the tradition of Western philosophy e.g. in the work of thinkers such as Gadamer and Popper.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Die artikel handel oor die vraag of die soort kennis wat in geloofsbelydenisse of geloofsaansprake gemaak word, versoenbaar is met die kennisaansprake van die moderne eksperimentele wetenskappe. Hierdie problematiek word aangepak deur... more
Die artikel handel oor die vraag of die soort kennis wat in geloofsbelydenisse of geloofsaansprake gemaak word, versoenbaar is met die kennisaansprake van die moderne eksperimentele wetenskappe. Hierdie problematiek word aangepak deur eers aandag te skenk aan die godsdienskritiek van een van die mees verbale en skerpste godsdienskritici uit die geledere van praktiserende wetenskaplikes van ons tyd, Richard Dawkins. Daarna word verduidelik wat die verskil is tussen kennisaansprake in geloof en wetenskap (onder andere met 'n beroep op sowel Kierkegaard as die minderbekende werk van McClendon en Smith), om, in die lig van van sodanige analise, aan te toon waar en hoe die skrywer van Dawkins verskil. Wetenskap en geloof is versoenbaar aangesien hulle vraagstellings nie na mekaar herleibaar is nie en die waarhede wat elkeen verkondig logies verskil en ook verskillend in die lewens van mense funksioneer. The question of knowledge in science and religion This article deals with the que...
Research Interests: Philosophy and Reference
Hermeneutics and historical consciousness: An appraisal of the contribution of Hans-Georg Gadamer.
Research Interests:
In this article, I deal with the issue of a possible ethics of responsibility (ER) from a philosophical perspective in general, and bioethics in particular. My aim is to explore whether an ER is able to incorporate or integrate some, if... more
In this article, I deal with the issue of a possible ethics of responsibility (ER) from a philosophical perspective in general, and bioethics in particular. My aim is to explore whether an ER is able to incorporate or integrate some, if not most, of the valid (and valuable) aspects of utilitarianism and deontology, without succumbing to most of the glaring shortcomings of these two famous frameworks. If such an enterprise could be successful, I would venture to infer that the ER could indeed be highly relevant for the time in which we live. I develop three central ideas of the framework of the ethics of responsibility. These three ideas are, firstly, that an appropriate framework for moral decision-making requires us to make room for the possibility of failure; secondly, we must see the implications of Jonas’ emphasis on the need for an ethics of futurity for taking cognisance of the consequences of acts, and, thirdly, that although consequences of actions may be important, as utili...
Core considerations in the reflection on the role of the (NG) Church in South Africa’s land reform debateThis article deals with the question as to whether the church (the Dutch Reformed Church in particular) ought to become involved in... more
Core considerations in the reflection on the role of the (NG) Church in South Africa’s land reform debateThis article deals with the question as to whether the church (the Dutch Reformed Church in particular) ought to become involved in the current (2019) debate about land reform (particularly land expropriation without compensation) in South Africa. The author defends the position that such involvement is, for the church, desirable and even unavoidable. Four key elements of such involvement are identified and analysed. The first is the issue of human dignity, which is a key aspect of the message of the gospel. The second aspect is (possible) leadership. Here it is argued that the church can facilitate, but not in a traditional leadership role. Much attention is, thirdly, paid to the moral aspects of the debate. Finally, in terms of the “how”-question relating to the church’s involvement, dialogue is proposed.
This article discusses the extraordinary history of the teaching of philosophy at Stellenbosch University, with a particular focus on the events that led to the split of the department in 1967, and its later reunification in the late... more
This article discusses the extraordinary history of the teaching of philosophy at Stellenbosch University, with a particular focus on the events that led to the split of the department in 1967, and its later reunification in the late 1980’s. The tensions that characterised these events, ultimately leading to the split of the department, were informed by resistance on the part of the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) clergy, embodied by the supervisory body (‘kuratorium’) presiding over what would later become the faculty of theology of the Stellenbosch University, to the seemingly unorthodox and controversial interpretations of religious doctrine by a lecturer within the department of philosophy, Dr JJ Degenaar. The eventual solution to these differences was the initial creation of two ‘streams’ in the department of philosophy, one of which would be political philosophy taught by Degenaar, and ultimately the creation of a separate department of political philosophy, headed by Degenaar. Th...
This article continues the discussion with Ernst Conradie in view of his earlier and critical review of the revised edition of Anton van Niekerk’s book Geloof sonder sekerhede [Faith without certainties]. The author provides further... more
This article continues the discussion with Ernst Conradie in view of his earlier and critical review of the revised edition of Anton van Niekerk’s book Geloof sonder sekerhede [Faith without certainties]. The author provides further clarity on his notion of the nature of religious faith which, for him, essentially coincides with the life of love proclaimed and demonstrated by Jesus of Nazareth. The rest of the article contains Van Niekerk’s analyses of the three “creative tensions” that Conradie identified in his original discussion of the book. These are the alleged tensions between orthodoxy and orthopraxis, between faith and certainty, as well as between scientific knowledge and the knowledge of faith. Most attention is paid to the last tension which, according to Van Niekerk, reveals an unfounded metaphysical presupposition in Conradie’s position, as well as the yielding of too much intellectual territory to scientism in Conradie’s insistence on the ontological continuity betwee...
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Military metaphors are pervasive in biomedicine, including HIV research. Rooted in the mind set that regards pathogens as enemies to be defeated, terms such as "shock and kill" have become widely accepted idioms within HIV cure... more
Military metaphors are pervasive in biomedicine, including HIV research. Rooted in the mind set that regards pathogens as enemies to be defeated, terms such as "shock and kill" have become widely accepted idioms within HIV cure research. Such language and symbolism must be critically examined as they may be especially problematic when used to express scientific ideas within emerging health-related fields. In this article, philosophical analysis and an interdisciplinary literature review utilizing key texts from sociology, anthropology, history, and Chinese and African studies were conducted to investigate the current proliferation of military metaphors. We found the use of these metaphors to be ironic, unfortunate, and unnecessary. To overcome military metaphors we propose to (1) give them less aggressive meanings, and/or (2) replace them with more peaceful metaphors. Building on previous authors' work, we argue for the increased use of "journey" (and related...
Research Interests:
Ethics for Medicine and Medicine for Ethics.
Research Interests:
In this article, the main complexities of understanding and curbing the HIV/AIDS pandemic in (South) Africa, are discussed. These are: 1. Poverty as niche or social context of the pandemic, 2. Denial, lack of leadership and the... more
In this article, the main complexities of understanding and curbing the HIV/AIDS pandemic in (South) Africa, are discussed. These are: 1. Poverty as niche or social context of the pandemic, 2. Denial, lack of leadership and the politicization of the public discourse on AIDS, 3. Problems related to accomplishing behavior changes under conditions of deprivation and illiteracy, 4. Women's vulnerability, and 5. The disenchantment of intimacy brought about by the pandemic. In each case, some solutions are suggested, although the notion of complexity does not allow for definitive solutions. Concluding remarks deal with the possible philosophical and moral sense that we might make of the pandemic.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Page 1. w I / aa / Ç at ! 9 { Ü { t ! ! b a Page 2. 2 5 . L L L 5 W / { Ü ! Page 3. 3 ! Ç { ! ILë !L5{ L C L { ! Ç Ç Ç ILë !L5{ { ! Ç ILë !L5{ { ! Page 4. 4 h I { ! ILë ëLD{ 5 I 5 Ç I 5 9 w [ { ! ILë ëLD { 5 { ! ILë ëLD{ Page 5. 5 Ç 5 ! h... more
Page 1. w I / aa / Ç at ! 9 { Ü { t ! ! b a Page 2. 2 5 . L L L 5 W / { Ü ! Page 3. 3 ! Ç { ! ILë !L5{ L C L { ! Ç Ç Ç ILë !L5{ { ! Ç ILë !L5{ { ! Page 4. 4 h I { ! ILë ëLD{ 5 I 5 Ç I 5 9 w [ { ! ILë ëLD { 5 { ! ILë ëLD{ Page 5. 5 Ç 5 ! h L / aw L Ç Ç b L w L 5 / a L v I L t ! I Ç / Page 6. 6 / ! 9 w L w / / / { / I t ...
Research Interests:
Online Journal Abstract Information - Sabinet Online.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
RefDoc Bienvenue - Welcome. Refdoc est un service / is powered by. ...
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Abstract In this paper we examine the questions “What does it mean to be a surrogate mother?” and “What would be an appropriate perspective for a surrogate mother to have on her pregnancy?” In response to the objection that such contracts... more
Abstract In this paper we examine the questions “What does it mean to be a surrogate mother?” and “What would be an appropriate perspective for a surrogate mother to have on her pregnancy?” In response to the objection that such contracts are alienating or dehumanising since they require women to suppress their evolving perspective on their pregnancies, liberal supporters of surrogate motherhood argue that the freedom to contract includes the freedom to enter a contract to bear a child for an infertile couple.