The “Short Step Backward”

1999 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naomi Oreskes
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Comparative Study ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Deductive Reasoning ◽  
Continental Drift ◽  
American Perspective ◽  
Evidential Support ◽  
The World ◽  
History Of ◽  
Tetrahedral System

In 1922, Harry Fielding Reid, a founder of American seismology, encapsulated the American perspective on scientific method in a review of Wegener’s Origin of Continents and Oceans. “There have been many attempts to deduce the characteristics of the Earth from a hypothesis,” he wrote, “but they have all failed. There is the pentagonal system of Elie de Beaumont, the tetrahedral system of Green . . . [continental drift] is another of the same type.” The history of hypothetico-deductive reasoning in geology was a history of failure; progress was to be made another way. “Science has developed,” Reid concluded, “by the painstaking comparison of observations and, through close induction, by taking one short step backward to their cause; not by first guessing at the cause and then deducing the phenomena.” An obvious reading of Reid’s comment is that Wegener’s faulty methodology led him to faulty conclusions. No doubt Reid thought so. But another reading is the implicit suggestion that a different approach —a different presentation —might have elicited a more favorable response. Charles Schuchert’s comment that it was “wrong lor a stranger to the facts to generalize from them to other generalizations” suggested that if evidential support for drift could come from someone who was not a “stranger to the facts,” then Americans might be more disposed to entertain the theory. This thought had occurred a few years earlier to Reginald Daly and Frederick Wright. When Daly and Wright returned from South Africa in the autumn of 1922, each pondered the question of continental drift. Daly, whose proclivities ran to theory, developed a mechanical account of drift; Wright, an experimentalist, began to think about a possible test. The key empirical evidence was the alleged similarities between the Karroo formations in South Africa and age-equivalent rocks elsewhere in the world — evidence that had earlier motivated Suess’s idea of Gondwanaland and now supported Wegener’s theory of drift. But how similar were these rocks, really? Suess and Wegener had based their ideas on compilations of published literature; neither man had studied any of these rocks in person. In fact, there had never been a direct comparative study of the so-called Gondwana beds.

scholarly journals Should 1974 be considered a watershed year in the economic history of the world?

1980 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 45-49
Author(s):  
G. Jan Hupkes
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Economic History ◽  
Free Market ◽  
Market Mechanism ◽  
Oil Consumption ◽  
Payments System ◽  
The World ◽  
History Of ◽  
Oil Crisis ◽  
Economic Future

The early 1970s marked a turning point in mankind's economic fortunes and the author takes 1974 as an 'artificial' vantage point from which to look back, but also forward. Several forces led to the shocks of the seventies: the breaking down in the discipline of the international payments system, rising inflation, the oil crisis, the West's loss of strategic military initiative to the East. The author outlines what ought to be done to improve the economic outlook for the 1980s: The international payments system must be placed on a more stable and disciplined footing, inflation must be controlled by balancing of national budgets, the energy crisis must be contained by reduction of oil consumption via the price mechanism. In South Africa the economic watershed year was 1976; two years later than that of the world economy in general. Since then a policy of strict financial discipline has led to a record surplus in balance of payments, which together with new emphasis on the importance of the free market mechanism and increasing energy self-sufficiency, promises a better economic future for South Africa than for many other countries.Die vroee 1970s was 'n keerpunt in die mensdom se ekonomiese lotgevalle en die skrywer neem 1974 as 'n 'kunsmatige' uitsigpunt vanwaar hy terug kyk, maar ook vorentoe. Verskeie magte het gelei tot die skokke van die sewentigs: die aftakeling van die dissipline van die internasionale betalingstelsel, stygende inflasie, die oliiekrisis, en die Weste se afstand van strategiese militere inisiatief aan die Ooste. Die skrywer dui aan wat gedoen moet word om die ekonomiese vooruitsigte vir die 1980s te verbeter: Die internasionale betalingstelsel moet op 'n meer stabiele en gedissiplineerde grondslag geplaas word, inflasie moet deur die balansering van nasionale begrotings beheer word, die energiekrisis moet via die prysmeganisme deur verminderde olieverbrulk beteuel word. In Suid-Afrika was die ekonomiese waterskeidingsjaar 1976; twee jaar later as die van die wereld-ekonomie in die algemeen. Sedertdien het 'n beleid van streng finansiele dissipline gelei tot 'n rekord surplus op die betalingsbalans, wat saam met nuwe klem op die belangrikheid van die vrye markmeganisme en toenemende energie-selfvoorsiening, 'n bater ekonomiese toekoms vir Suid-Afrika as vir baie ander lande beloof.

Preferential Marriage: Correlation of the Various Modes among the Bantu Tribes of the Union of South Africa

Africa ◽  
1928 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 413-428 ◽  
Author(s):  
Werner Eiselen
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Comparative Study ◽  
Social Organization ◽  
Strong Evidence ◽  
The Other ◽  
Cousin Marriage ◽  
Independent Origin ◽  
The World ◽  
The Comparative Study

The several forms of preferential mating, such as cross-cousin marriage, sororate and levirate, are well known and have been reported from all the ethnographic provinces of the world. Lately Lowie and Rivers have devoted special chapters in their books on social organization to the comparative study of these important institutions. Lowie has pointed out that there is strong evidence for the correlation of sororate and levirate. The later publication of Rivers hardly serves to make these matters any clearer than Lowie's work. Although the latter scholar, with Tylor and others, recognized the close connexion existing between sororate and levirate, the evidence at his disposal did not allow him to arrive at a similar conclusion with regard to the other forms of preferential marriage. Accordingly he had to treat them, for the time being, as institutions of independent origin.

Agrarian Reform in Historical Perspective a Comparative Study

1963 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elias H. Tuma
Keyword(s):  
United Nations ◽  
Comparative Study ◽  
French Revolution ◽  
Historical Perspective ◽  
Agrarian Reform ◽  
Political Movements ◽  
Reform Movements ◽  
The World ◽  
History Of ◽  
Almost Continuous

The history of agrarian reform is as long as the history of the world, extending back into medieval, ancient, and biblical times. Like many other socio-economic and political movements, agrarian reform movements have been sporadic and discontinuous, although the last two centuries have witnessed almost continuous reform attempts commencing with the French Revolution. These attempts have become very common during the last two decades and have become part and parcel of United Nations programs. Though the literature on reform is extensive, there has been no endeavor to review reform movements in a historical perspective, or to synthesize the knowledge that can be derived therefrom and utilize it in guiding or evaluating reform. The need for this cannot be overestimated.

scholarly journals Soft Touch or Heavy Hand? Legislative Approaches for Preventing Invasions: Insights from Cacti in South Africa

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 307-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Novoa ◽  
Haylee Kaplan ◽  
Sabrina Kumschick ◽  
John R. U. Wilson ◽  
David M. Richardson
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Invasive Species ◽  
South African ◽  
Economic Impacts ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Global Awareness ◽  
Significant Control ◽  
The World ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Cost

AbstractThe rate of transportation, introduction, dissemination, and spread of nonnative species is increasing despite growing global awareness of the extent and impact of biological invasions. Effective policies are needed to prevent an increase in the significant negative environmental and economic impacts caused by invasive species. Here we explore this issue in the context of the history of invasion and subsequent regulation of cacti introduced to South Africa. We consider seven approaches to restricting trade by banning the following: (1) species already invasive in the region, (2) species invasive anywhere in the world, (3) species invasive anywhere in the world with a climate similar to the target region, (4) genera containing invasive species, (5) growth forms associated with invasiveness, (6) cacti with seed characteristics associated with invasiveness, and (7) the whole family. We evaluate each approach on the basis of the availability and complexity of information required for implementation, including the cost of the research needed to acquire such information, the likely numbers of false positives and false negatives, the likely degree of public acceptance, and the costs of implementation. Following a consultative process, we provide recommendations for how to regulate nonnative cacti in South Africa. The simplest option would be to ban all cacti, but available evidence suggests that most species pose negligible risk of becoming invasive, making this option unreasonable. The other extreme—reactively regulating species once they are invasive—would incur significant control costs, likely result in significant environmental and economic impacts, and limit management goals (e.g., eradication might be unfeasible). We recommended an intermediate option—the banning of all genera containing invasive species. This recommendation has been partly incorporated in South African regulations. Our study emphasizes the importance of scientific research, a legal framework, and participation of stakeholders in assessments. This approach builds awareness, trust, and support, and ensures that all interests are reflected in final regulations, making them easier to implement and enforce.

South Africa and the International Community

1966 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 297-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Dale
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Nineteenth Century ◽  
South African ◽  
British Empire ◽  
Nobel Laureate ◽  
Western World ◽  
Founding Father ◽  
Boer War ◽  
The World ◽  
History Of

Ever since the discovery there of gold and diamonds in the last half of the nineteenth century, South Africa has engaged the rapt attention of the Western world. The saga of the Anglo-Boer War of 1899–1902, perhaps the last of the “gentlemen's wars,” and now the refurbished accounts of the gallant defense of Rorke's Drift in the AngloZulu War of 1879 have been fascinating material for both novelists and film scriptwriters. In addition, the history of South Africa is replete with titanic figures who rank with, or perhaps even above, those from the rest of the continent: the aggressive architect of empire, Cecil J. Rhodes; the redoubtable Zulu warrior, Chaka; the dour, stern-willed President of the South African Republic, “Oom” (Uncle) Paul Kruger; the world-renowned statesman and philosopher, Field Marshal Jan C. Smuts; the founding father of Indian independence, Mohandas K. Gandhi; the compassionate and courageous writer, Alan S. Paton; and the dignified, modest Zulu Nobel Laureate, Albert J. Luthuli. By any standard, South Africa and its leaders of all races have made far-reaching and impressive contributions to the continent, the British Empire, and the world at large.

Facing the World: Towards a Global History of Non-Latin Type Design

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 399-411
Author(s):  
Thomas S. Mullaney
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Global History ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Type Design ◽  
The World ◽  
Critical Issues ◽  
History Of ◽  
Printed Word ◽  
Archival Work

Abstract This essay serves as the entry point into a broader exploration of critical issues in the history of “non-Latin” type design—that is, type design beyond the Latin alphabet. With special emphasis on certain scripts (Arabic, Chinese, Greek, and Devanagari, among others) and regions (South Asia, East Asia, South Africa, and beyond), this special issue brings together practicing designers and scholars, federating rigorous archival work, practice-based insight, and a deep engagement with the global history of the written, designed, and printed word.

The Global Refuge

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Owen Stanwood
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South Carolina ◽  
New England ◽  
Early Modern ◽  
Modern World ◽  
Key Skills ◽  
The World ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
Edict Of Nantes

Huguenot refugees were everywhere in the early modern world. Exiles fleeing French persecution, they scattered around Europe and beyond following the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685, settling in North America, the Caribbean, South Africa, and even remote islands in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. This book offers the first global history of the Huguenot diaspora, explaining how and why these refugees became such ubiquitous characters in the history of imperialism. The story starts with dreams of Eden, as beleaguered religious migrants sought suitable retreats to build perfect societies far from the political storms of Europe. In order to create these communities, however, the Huguenots needed patrons, and they thus ran headlong into the world of politics. The refugees promoted themselves as the chosen people of empire, religious heroes who also possessed key skills that would strengthen the British and Dutch states. As a result, French Protestants settled around the world—they tried to make silk in South Carolina; they planted vines in South Africa; and they peopled vulnerable frontiers from New England to Suriname. Of course, this embrace of empire led to a gradual abandonment of the Huguenots’ earlier utopian ambitions. They realized that only by blending in, and by mastering foreign institutions, could they prosper in a quickly changing world. Nonetheless, they managed to maintain a key role in the early modern world well into the eighteenth century, before the coming of Revolution upended the ancien régime.

“Despite the contradictions”

2020 ◽  
pp. 185-194
Author(s):  
Christine Jeske
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Civil Rights ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Good Life ◽  
The Good Life ◽  
Racial Inequalities ◽  
The People ◽  
The World ◽  
History Of ◽  
Social Narrative

This chapter offers closing thoughts that reiterate and summarizes the main points of the book. The chapter explores the ways people make a careful survey of their situation and work out a method to yield growth despite life's contradictions and pressures. If their lives look at times like wind-torn shrubs, that does not mean that they are poorly adapted or lethargic. Instead, it offers evidence of the hard work it takes to thrive in a world where the good life is hard to find. It shows that a dominant myth blaming inequality on laziness has guided, upheld, and justified racial inequalities in South Africa and the world since the earliest mercantile and colonial encounters between Europeans and Africans, and this narrative was never eradicated, despite antislavery, civil rights, and anti-apartheid movements that achieved important legal and structural changes. The struggle to change this social narrative is an unglorified resistance with no clear ending point, but it is essential to the pursuit of the good life. It also shows evidence that in order to generate employment while aiming for the higher goal of seeking good, South Africa must address the history of antiblack disrespect that perpetuates dysfunctional employment structures. The people described in this book refuse to conform to narratives of inevitable happy endings or easy hope, but neither do their stories end only in despair.

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