Week 5 MELANESIAN VALUES AND ETHICS

• Melanesian


  The term used to refer to the group of people across Papua New Guinea (PNG) and the south Pacific Islands of Melanesia
• Melanesia's name was derived from the Greek melas 'black' and nesoi 'islands' because of its dark-skinned inhabitants
• Melanesian values


  • The value of land (graun or wara)
  • The value of the clan (lain or wantok)
  • The value of reciprocity (bekim, bekim bek)
  • The value of food (kaikai)
  • The value of ancestors (tumbuna, tambaran)
  • The value of ritual (tabu, singsing, lotu)
  • The value of leadership (hetman)
  • The value of education (skul)
  • The value of compensation (peibek, bekim, birua)
  • The value of work (wok)
• Melanesian worldviews

  • Supported by 10 values
  • Enshrines a provision of truth value or ethics embedded within the culture
  • Cannot be comprehensively rationalized outside the culture
• Melanesian worldview

  Creates a unique interrelationship with natural and supernatural elements of the world
• Melanesian Way


  Believes in the reinforcement and building of shared (cultural) values, relationships and insights that are in harmony with the community
• National principles of PNG Constitution

  • Integral Human Development
  • Equal Opportunities and Participation in National Development
  • National Sovereignty and Self-Reliance
  • Protection of Natural Resources and Environment
  • The Maintenance of Papua New Guinean Ways
• Melanesian social life


  • Greatly affected by cultural perspectives
  • Described as a constant give and take
  • Reciprocity of exchanging value is seen as building relationships
  • Expectation of reciprocity may result in ill-feelings if it does not occur
  • Value may sometimes be derived from the expectation rather than an actual sense of giving
• Christianity has been a powerful force of influence within Melanesia since the late 1800s
• Missionary work and colonial rule in the region together have eliminated various cultural traditions – some of which were quite detailed and rich, others violent and exploitative
• Melanesian societies have evolved from being largely classless to becoming very class-structured
• New influences have consequently given rise to cultural nationalist ideologies that focus on traditional customs (kastom or pasin blong peles) and the 'Melanesian Way'
• Moral Relativism


  What is morally right or wrong depends on the prevailing views of the society or culture being dealt with
• Common Good

  Shared and beneficial for all, or most members of a community
• Many Melanesian cultures were also shaped by a warrior ethic – an ethos of bravery, violence, vengeance and honor
• In parts of Melanesia, justice was synonymous to vengeance. For example, vengeance killings usually continued to be perpetrated by each side of a feud until it was balanced out or 'blood money' was paid