The Epistemology Impact

Essay # 64663

A look at how epistemology impacts 'commonsense' versus 'scientific' knowledge of social issues and events focusing on the Aborigines.

1,040 words () | 15 sources | MLA | 2005 Australia

Paper Summary:

This paper explores the impact of the first generation of Aboriginal adults and the introduction of white man's law which appears to exacerbate Aboriginal youth who re-offend. It looks at how Aboriginal communities will continue to experience much higher rates of crime and how new generations will reproduce and intensify Aboriginal resistance to the problems of what was introduced when white settlement commenced. It also shows how the very concept of crime is problematic for Aboriginal people because it has social and historical associations with colonisation.

Outline
Introduction
The Epistemology Impact - Introduction of White Man's Law
Scientific Sociology'
Standpoint Theory
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"The introduction of the Protectionist Act gave State governments power to control all aspects of Aboriginal people's lives from their behaviour, employment, education, social restrictions and cultural denial.
The Chief Protector was able to move Aboriginal people from town to town, institutionalise them in reserves, and place 'uncontrollable' Aboriginals in jail indefinitely (Cunneen, 1994: 128-158). The result was the removal of Aboriginal people from ancestral lands, the placement of unrelated people in missions and reserves, leading to family, social and cultural disruption."