Non-Western Perspectives on Learning and Knowing

Autor/inn/en	Merriam, Sharan B.; Kim, Young Sek
Titel	Non-Western Perspectives on Learning and Knowing
Quelle	In: New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education, (2008) 119, S.71-81 (11 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1052-2891
DOI	10.1002/ace.307
Schlagwörter	Foreign Countries; Non Western Civilization; Perspective Taking; Adult Learning; Adult Education; Adult Educators; Cultural Awareness; World Views; Africa + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Ausland; Zukunftsperspektive; Adulte education; Adult training; Erwachsenenbildung; Adult; Adults; Education; Adult basic education; Adult education teacher; Adult education; Teacher; Teachers; Adult educator; Erwachsenenbildner; Lehrer; Lehrerin; Lehrende; Cultural identity; Kulturelle Identität; World view; Weltanschauung; Afrika
Abstract	What counts as knowledge and truth in an African context is deeply embedded in the community and is a product of age and experience, in contrast to "the western strategy of convincing with arguments. From the African point of view, arguments are a sign of weakness, of lack of power and vitality. A good, forceful truth does not need arguments. ... Truth is not argued for but felt ... as a force coming from the speaking human" (Hamminga, 2005). This is but one example of how another epistemological system or worldview differs from what people in Western society are accustomed to in their understanding of adult learning. The purpose of this chapter is to introduce readers to systems of learning and knowing different from the Western perspective. Many of these systems predate Western science by thousands of years, and even today they are held by the majority of the world's peoples. The authors first discuss the growing awareness of non-Western perspectives. This discussion is followed by three themes characterizing adult learning in non-Western systems. The authors close with a discussion of how familiarity with these perspectives can extend their understanding and practice as adult educators and learners. (ERIC).
Anmerkungen	John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Subscription Department, 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774. Tel: 800-825-7550; Tel: 201-748-6645; Fax: 201-748-6021; e-mail: subinfo@wiley.com; Web site: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/browse/?type=JOURNAL
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10