deepstash
Beta
Philosophy of Culture Meaning
Studying culture raises difficult questions
To study culture, you have to distance yourself from it, which means the only way to study a culture is by not sharing it. The study of culture ask difficult questions about human nature:
- To what extend can you really understand yourself?
- To what extent can a society assess its own practices?
- What grounds does the anthropologist have to better understand the dynamics of a society than the members of the society themselves?
72 SAVES
This is a professional note extracted from an online article.
Read more efficiently
Save what inspires you
Remember anything
IDEA EXTRACTED FROM:
3
Key Ideas
Describing culture
Culture refers to the practices of exchanging information across generations and peers by means that are not genetic. It includes behavior and symbolic systems.
The way we use the term is a recent invention. Before the 1800s, culture typically referred to the educational process a person had undergone.
Culture and Relativism
Cultural relativists claim that no culture has a truer worldview than any other - they are just different.
The anthropological conception of culture is the most productive terrain for cultural relativism. For example, some societies have a clear-cut gender and racial division, while others do not.
Studying culture raises difficult questions
To study culture, you have to distance yourself from it, which means the only way to study a culture is by not sharing it. The study of culture ask difficult questions about human nature:
- To what extend can you really understand yourself?
- To what extent can a society assess its own practices?
- What grounds does the anthropologist have to better understand the dynamics of a society than the members of the society themselves?
SIMILAR ARTICLES & IDEAS:
3
Key Ideas
Anthropology
It is the study of humans and the ways they live. The goal is to understand human diversity and cultural differences. The four primary sub-fields:
- Archeology focuses o...
Sociology
It studies the ways groups of people interact with each other and how their behavior is influenced by social structures, categories, and institutions. It has many tenets:
- Individuals belong to groups, which influence their behavior.
- Groups have characteristics independent of their members.
- Sociology focuses on patterns of behavior among groups (defined by gender, race, class, etc.)
Anthropology and sociology careers
Anthropology and sociology degrees can lead to a career as a teacher, public sector employee, or academic. The degree can be a stepping stone to a career in politics, public administration, or law.
Non-academic careers for anthropologists include public sector research at organizations like the World Bank or UNESCO, or working as freelance research consultants.
Sociologists who have a PhD can work as analysts in public policy organizations, or as demographers, non-profit administrators, or research consultants.
3
Key Ideas
To travel around the world’s philosophies is an opportunity to challenge beliefs we take for granted. By gaining greater knowledge of how others think, we can become less certain of the...
6
Key Ideas
Problems with the Work Ethic
- For centuries, the promise of America has been built on the work ethic, with everyone aspiring to have a job that pays them.
- Work Ethic as it is has not provided any social, moral or s...
The Unfulfilled Promise of Work
What working a decent job means is slowing losing ground, as we are not deriving meaning from our work.
Having a job means getting paid for our talents, but it may not be the case for many. Work ethic is supposed to provide us a good life, but in reality, the opposite is happening.
Following The Orders
Most workers rely on the whims and fancies of the so-called 'Job Creators', a class of people who own a business and can employ staff. Job creators hold power on the worker's time, behavior and conditions of employment.
These employers also monitor and sanction what workers post on social media, what they eat or drink, how frequently and for how long are they going to the bathroom, and what are their political leanings.
3 more ideas