Not only does University of Pretoria (UP) graduate Dr Graham Dampier hold a PhD in English Literature, but he’s also taught himself statistical methods, how to code and how to analyse data. And as if that isn’t impressive enough, he recently graduated with a second PhD – this time in Philosophy.

He describes his academic journey as a long and winding one. Dr Dampier obtained an undergraduate degree in 2004, an honours degree in 2005, a master’s (cum laude) in 2007 and a PhD in 2011, all in English Literature. Yet after completing his undergraduate and postgraduate studies, he felt the urge to broaden his knowledge.

“I originally considered studying psychometrics, but in 2015 and 2016, the #FeesMustFall movement altered my perspective on the university and its role in society,” Dr Dampier says.

This led him to explore the subject of his most recent PhD.

“I became convinced that the inequalities of South African society could not be solved solely through politics, and that intellectual work had to play a crucial part in addressing some of our most profound issues,” he explains. “So I decided to pursue a master’s in Philosophy, focusing on a particular neoliberal critique of Karl Marx’s analysis of capital. I obtained an MA in Philosophy in 2018 and chose to continue studying. After getting to know my supervisor, Professor Thaddeus Metz, I realised I had to learn from one of the greatest minds of our time, who is also among the most generous academics and human beings I have ever met.”

Dr Dampier elaborates on his doctoral research.

“Western philosophy tends to favour the idea that individuals should be provided with goods, resources and opportunities directly, which often benefits people as individuals, without fostering human flourishing as something shared with others. I argue that, to counter this, it is better to distribute resources to communities to ensure that everyone lives a dignified life, which is consistent with the African ethic of ubuntu and its emphasis on developing morally with and through others.

“In terms of how to share society’s resources, I argue that harmony should serve as a distributive ideal, because it is a more effective way of encouraging people to participate in caring and supportive relationships with others than to pursue distributive fairness or strict equality. To accomplish this, I argue that every person must have enough to live a dignified human life without anyone having so much that it would disrespect others or make it difficult to relate to them.” 

Dr Dampier says he knew his research was important because it aims to address some of the biggest concerns in society: poverty, inequality and social alienation.

“I’d be honoured if my research was used to ensure a dignified way of life for every person and encourage people to cultivate their sense of responsibility towards others,” he says. “I believe this is the best way to foster social cohesion and overcome divisions within society. I hope this work will guide elected politicians and state institutions on how to distribute what we need to participate in caring and supportive relationships with others. African philosophy teaches us that the more we care for others, the more we develop as moral beings.”