Herder on Humanity and Cultural Difference


Book Description

Herder is often criticized for having embraced cultural relativism, but there has been little philosophical discussion of what he actually wrote about the nature of the human species and its differentiation through culture. This book focuses on Herder's idea of culture, seeking to situate his social and political theses within the context of his anthropology, metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, theory of language and philosophy of history. It argues for a view of Herder as a qualified relativist, who combined the conception of a common human nature with a belief in the importance of culture in developing and shaping that nature. Especially highlighted are Herder's understanding of the relativity of virtue and happiness, and his belief in the impossibility of constructing a single best society. The book will appeal to a wide range of readers interested both in Herder and in Enlightenment culture more generally.




Anthropology, History, and Education


Book Description

This 2007 volume contains all of Kant's major writings on human nature.




Herder


Book Description

J. G. Herder is enjoying a renaissance in philosophy and related disciplines and yet there are, as yet, few books on him. This unprecedented collection fills a large gap in the secondary literature, highlighting the genuinely innovative and distinctive nature of Herder's philosophy. Not only does Herder offer highly original answers to important philosophical questions, such as the mind-body problem and the role of sensibility in cognition and ethics, he also opens up rich resources for thinking about philosophy itself and connections to other fields in the humanities and social sciences. Herder: Philosophy and Anthropology brings together a set of original essays that centre on the question at the heart of Herder's philosophical thought: How can philosophy enable an understanding of the human being not simply rationalistically as an intellectual and moral agent, but also as a creature of nature who is fundamentally marked by an affective openness and responsiveness to the world and other persons. The first part of the volume examines the various dimensions of Herder's philosophical understanding of human nature through which he sought methodologically to delineate a genuinely anthropological philosophy. The second part then examines further aspects of this understanding of human nature and what emerges from it: the human-animal distinction; how human life evolves over space and time on the basis of a natural order; the fundamentally hermeneutic dimension to human existence; and the interrelatedness of language, history, religion, and culture.




Herder on Nationality, Humanity, and History


Book Description

F.M. Barnard demonstrates that Herder, despite his innovative work on the idea of nationality, was fully aware not only of the dangers of ethnic fanaticism but also of the hazards of what is now know as globalization, recognizing that these must be tempered by a sense of universal humanity. Barnard shows that Herder anticipated modern theories of the dynamics of cultures and traditions through the problematic interplay of persistence and change and that his speculations on cultural and political pluralism, on language as a democratic bond, and on the possible fusion of communitarian and liberal dimensions of public life remain relevant to contemporary debates.




Beyond Cultures


Book Description




Personality and Person Perception Across Cultures


Book Description

Neither human nature nor personality can be independent of culture. Human beings share certain social norms or rules within their cultural groups. Over 2000 years ago, Aristotle held that man is by nature a social animal. Similarly, Xun Kuang (298-238 B.C.), a Chinese philosopher, pointed out that humans in social groups can not function without shared guidance or rules. This book is designed to provide readers with a perspective on how people are different from, and similar to, each other --both within and across cultures. One of its goals is to offer a practical guide for people preparing to interact with those whose cultural background is different from their own.




Cross-Cultural Dialogues


Book Description

A collection of 74 brief conversations between an American and people from other cultures.




MULTICULTURAL ASPECTS OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR


Book Description

This third edition has a title modification, in that the previous two editions were titled Multicultural Aspects of Disabilities: A Guide to Understanding and Assisting Minorities in the Rehabilitation Process. This edition is titled Multicultural Aspects of Human Behavior: A Guide to Understanding Human Cultural Development. The reason for the title modification is to expand and emphasize cultural impacts with regard to human behavior and in doing so the goal is to identify factors which impact cultural development and cultural perceptions of various groups of people such as persons with disabilities, ethnic/racial minorities, women, the elderly, as well as gays, lesbians and people of different religious denominations. Each chapter has an informative outline of the content. Chapters 1 and 2 establish the meaning of culture and understanding the human behavior. Chapter 3 addresses discrimination. Chapter 4 discusses religion. Chapters 6-9 review the African, Asian, Hispanic Americans and the American Indians. Chapter 10 presents some history of the battles women have faced throughout the years. Chapter 11 addresses the African, Asian, Hispanic American and American Indian elderly. The concluding chapter defines the gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual people and their cultural evolution. This third edition continues the theme of providing information with regard to factors that impact the lives of racial/ethnic minorities as well as women and the elderly in America; however, the updates and addition of new chapters will make the text a more complete discussion of cultural information needed by professional helpers as they work with their clients and patients.




Herder on Empathy and Sympathy


Book Description

An exploration of the meaning and role of the concepts of empathy and sympathy in Herder’s thought, showing that the two concepts permeate his entire philosophy.




Heidegger, Morality and Politics


Book Description

Heidegger has often been seen as having no moral philosophy and a political philosophy that can only support fascism. Sonia Sikka's book challenges this view, arguing instead that Heidegger should be considered a qualified moral realist, and that his insights on cultural identity and cross-cultural interaction are not invalidated by his support for Nazism. Sikka explores the ramifications of Heidegger's moral and political thought for topics including free will and responsibility, the status of humanity within the design of nature, the relation between the individual and culture, the rights of peoples to political self-determination, the idea of race and the problem of racism, historical relativism, the subjectivity of values, and the nature of justice. Her discussion highlights aspects of Heidegger's thought that are still relevant for modern debates, while also addressing its limitations as reflected in his political affiliations and sympathies.