CU SEBAGAI “RUMAH PEMBERDAYAAN”: TELAAH FILOSOFIS TENTANG KOPERASI KREDIT SEBAGAI GERAKAN EKONOMI DAN TRANSFORMASI SOSIAL
Kanisius Teobaldus Deki STIE Karya-KSP Kopkardios Abstract Credit Unions (CUs) are often understood primarily as financial institutions providing savings and loan services to their members. Such an understanding, however, does not fully capture the essence of the Credit Union movement. Philosophically, a CU is an association of persons founded on trust, solidarity, education, responsibility, and self-help. This article aims to examine the Credit Union as a “house of empowerment” through ontological, anthropological, epistemological, axiological, and social-ethical perspectives. The study employs a literature review with a philosophical-critical approach to literature on Credit Unions, cooperatives, empowerment, liberation education, and Credit Union practices in Indonesia. The analysis shows that the essence of a CU lies not primarily in the accumulation of capital but in people who associate themselves and empower one another. Financial capital is positioned as a means, whil...