On beauty and human encounter as an alternative to tolerance in the quest for societal change in South Africa

Abstract

Division, rather than unity, still appears to characterise contemporary South African society despite the many attempts and strategies aimed at “transformation”. A call for tolerance is often presented as the panacea for our divided nation. However, the concept of tolerance falls short in addressing lack of social integration and facilitating true change. Not only do the proponents of “tolerance” openly admit to its unsuitability in addressing issues of racism, but the concept itself is problematic in terms of its implementation. This article suggests that deep and lasting change can more effectively be achieved through the facilitation of spaces which allow for an encounter with the humanity of the “other”. I reflect on student responses to such an encounter, which appear to have much in common with the human responses to beauty as described by Elaine Scarry in her piece entitled “On Beauty and Being Just”. The analogy is reflected in a number of similarities noted – including the desire to replicate or recreate the encounter, the feeling of having been awakened to a fresh experience of the world, a sense of conviction regarding future action and an awareness of previous error in judgement. Similarly, such encounters appear to engender a “radical decentring” which encompasses a change in one’s state of consciousness, moving one from a limiting subjectivity to a spontaneous focus on the interests of the other. In light of these correlations, I argue that such encounters hold much potential to effect change in our society.