Identity, Recognition and Culture

Maritain Studies/Etudes Maritainiennes 37:90-111 (2021)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

One of the concerns in the modern democratic state is what place there should be, if any, for the recognition of cultures and cultural identities. Should a democratic state concern itself with the preservation of culture? Should it recognize or promote a national culture – a German culture in Germany, for example, – or should it recognise or promote some kind of national cultural pluralism or multiculturalism? Should a culture or one’s cultural identity have special protections or rights in the state? In this paper, work towards answers to some of these questions. I begin with a brief statement of what I call the ‘modern’ liberal democratic view, and present how it generally understands the place of cultural identity and culture. I then consider a response to it – a view that has been called ‘communitarian.’ Following this, I present an alternative to both views that situates itself within ‘postmodern’ liberal democratic tradition and, again, see how it understands the place of cultural identity and culture. I argue that this latter view, and indeed all three views, neglect some key issues on the nature of identity and, by extension, culture. It is only by being attentive to these key issues that we can arrive at a plausible and practicable statement of the place of cultural identity and of culture in the modern democratic state.

Links

PhilArchive



    Upload a copy of this work     Papers currently archived: 90,616

External links

Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Similar books and articles

Remembering the Catholic Middle Ages.David Salter - 2013 - Logos: A Journal of Catholic Thought and Culture 16 (4):99-123.
The Recognition of Faith in the Poetry of Tomas Transtromer.Jenifer Whiting - 2004 - Logos: A Journal of Catholic Thought and Culture 7 (4):65-77.
Philosophy, Culture, and the Future of Tradition.William Sweet - 2002 - Philosophy, Culture, and Traditions 1:103-119.
Truths of Nature, Truths of Culture, Truths of Faith.Kenneth L. Schmitz - 1986 - Philosophy and Theology 1 (2):173-190.
The Thomistic Telescope.John Milbank - 2006 - American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly 80 (2):193-226.
Editorial.William Sweet - 2007 - Philosophy, Culture, and Traditions 4:5-6.
Editorial.William Sweet - 2015 - Philosophy, Culture, and Traditions 11:231-232.
What Remains of Modernity?William Sweet - 2008 - Philosophy, Culture, and Traditions 5:119-136.
Introduction.Edward J. Alam & William Sweet - 2008 - Philosophy, Culture, and Traditions 5:7-10.
Introduction to Christopher Dawson, "America and the Secularization of Modern Culture".Gerald J. Russello - 2000 - Logos: A Journal of Catholic Thought and Culture 3 (3):11-22.
Respect for Tradition (And the Catholic Philosopher Today).Nicholas Rescher - 2004 - Proceedings of the American Catholic Philosophical Association 78:1-9.
Respect for Tradition (And the Catholic Philosopher Today).Nicholas Rescher - 2004 - Proceedings of the American Catholic Philosophical Association 78:1-9.
2.2 America and the Secularization of Modern Culture; The Smith History Lecture 1960.Christopher Dawson - 2000 - Logos: A Journal of Catholic Thought and Culture 3 (3):23-34.

Analytics

Added to PP
2023-02-16

Downloads
1 (#1,769,934)

6 months
1 (#1,040,386)

Historical graph of downloads

Sorry, there are not enough data points to plot this chart.
How can I increase my downloads?

Author's Profile

William Sweet
St. Francis Xavier University

Citations of this work

No citations found.

Add more citations

References found in this work

No references found.

Add more references