Discussion question (300 words)
I need an explanation for this History question to help me study.
An Orthodox Public Administrator and an African Communitarian walk into a bar. The bar tender declares ‘I need an expert!” How will each of the two respond to the bar tender?
The question appears to be a play on the different cultural and philosophical perspectives that an Orthodox Public Administrator and an African Communitarian might hold.
An Orthodox Public Administrator is likely to approach the situation from a Western, bureaucratic perspective. They may see themselves as experts in their field, with specialized knowledge and training in public administration. Therefore, they may respond to the bartender’s request by offering their professional expertise on whatever issue the bartender is facing.
On the other hand, an African Communitarian is likely to approach the situation from a more collective, community-based perspective. In African Communitarianism, knowledge is often seen as a shared resource, and individuals are expected to contribute their knowledge and skills to benefit the community as a whole. Therefore, the African Communitarian may respond to the bartender’s request by asking other patrons in the bar for their input, in an effort to arrive at a collective solution that benefits everyone.
Of course, these are generalizations, and individuals may hold different perspectives depending on their personal beliefs and experiences. However, this question could be used to spark a discussion about cultural and philosophical differences, and how they might impact how individuals approach problem-solving in different contexts.
