This paper investigates the phenomena of de- and rehumanization. Daniel Bar-Tal has identified different societal activities and beliefs common in situations of protracted conflict, of which dehumanization is one. The reversal of dehumanization, namely rehumanization, is necessary in order to change a society from an ethos of conflict, to one with an ethos of peace. As the activity of dehumanization is complex, in order to understand how rehumanization can occur, the phenomenon of dehumanization is analyzed, and different types of dehumanization (...) discussed. The paper finally proposes a dialectical process of rehumanization utilizing imaginative understanding, with a focus on the interplay between treatment and perception. ‘All oppressive regimes become stronger through the degradation of the oppressed.’ Simone de Beauvoir (1962: p. 101). (shrink)

This paper deals with the issue of collective responsibility in the aftermath of apartheid. For the purposes of this paper I assume that there is such a thing as collective responsibility and, given this assumption, I show that determining precisely which the relevant responsible groups are is by no means a straightforward task. There are at least three models that are used in the literature to determine which collectives specifically are responsible. The three standard models used for determining collective responsibility (...) also show us in what ways individuals forming part of each collective are responsible. For instance, some individuals will be responsible for decisions made and others for benefits accrued. An important conclusion of this investigation is that responsible groups cannot clearly be divided along racial lines although race clearly does play an important role. South African Journal of Philosophy Vol. 27 2008: pp. 340-352. (shrink)