Erkenning van kulturele verskille
Date
2001
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
South African Academy for Science and Arts
Abstract
'n Lang en ryk tradisie in die filosofie gaan daarvan uit dat die behoefte aan erkenning 'n universele
en wesenlike menslike gegewe is. 1 Dit word nie net in abstraksie beredeneer nie, maar ook onderskryf
deur spesifieke interpretasies van die mitologie, die tragedie, antler literere vorme, asook studies in
die psigologie, sosiale antropologie en die fenomenologie van godsdiens. In hierdie bydrae gaan
daar egter spesifiek gefokus word op die problematiek van erkenning van kulturele verskille omdat
dit in hedendaagse samelewings so 'n belangrike rol speel. 2 Suid-Afrika is in die verband geen
uitsondering nie, hoewel die tekstuur van kulturele verskeidenheid en veral die wyse waarop dit in
die koloniale en apartheidsverlede verpolitiseer is, ons situasie verskillend maak. Die algemene
bewussyn in die wereld vandag van die belang van kulturele verskille en die probleme wat die
erkenning daarvan oproep, word ook gereflekteer in die hedendaagse filosofie, byvoorbeeld in
bepaalde vorme van multikulturalisme, feminisme en postmodemisme, in debatte oor die begronding
en begrensing van groepspesifieke ofkulturele regte, en in die herwaardering van die etiese appel
wat van die antler, ook die "kulturele antler", uitgaan. 3
Waarop meer spesifiek gefokus gaan word - veral in die tweede en derde dee! van hierdie
betoog - is die vraag onder watter voorwaardes erkenning van kulturele verskille gevra en gegee
kan word. Die antwoord van 'n bepaalde vorm van kulturele relatiwisme op hierdie vraag is die
"gelykheidstese", dit wil se die opvatting dat die gelykwaardigheid van kulture erken moet word.
Deur 'n kritiek van die opvatting been, sal betoog word dat die voorwaardes vir die erkenning van
kulturele verskille op 'n antler, in feite aporetiese wyse verstaan moet word. Met die oog daarop
word daar eers gewys op die verband tussen kultuur en erkenning.
The demand for the recognition of cultural differences is central to a number of debates associated with multiculturalism. Following Charles Taylors analysis of the relation between modernity and cultural pluralism, it is argued that the demand of cultural relativism, namely that the equal value of cultures should be recognised, is not justifiable. This however should not serve as an excuse for underestimating the significance of cultural differences or for ethnocentric indifference towards claims for recognition. The prerequisites for claims towards recognition are further explored by distinguishing between two justifiable claims: on the one hand the claim that the right to differ should be recognised and on the other hand the claim that the inherent value of the difference should be recognised. It is argued that the possibilities of granting recognition are in most cases restricted to the first claim. Although the second claim may also be justified, it is in most cases not possible to meet it. The conclusion is that we encounter an aporetic ground for both cultural critique and intercultural tolerance; in fact a better ground for tolerance than cultural relativism which easily leads to indifference.
The demand for the recognition of cultural differences is central to a number of debates associated with multiculturalism. Following Charles Taylors analysis of the relation between modernity and cultural pluralism, it is argued that the demand of cultural relativism, namely that the equal value of cultures should be recognised, is not justifiable. This however should not serve as an excuse for underestimating the significance of cultural differences or for ethnocentric indifference towards claims for recognition. The prerequisites for claims towards recognition are further explored by distinguishing between two justifiable claims: on the one hand the claim that the right to differ should be recognised and on the other hand the claim that the inherent value of the difference should be recognised. It is argued that the possibilities of granting recognition are in most cases restricted to the first claim. Although the second claim may also be justified, it is in most cases not possible to meet it. The conclusion is that we encounter an aporetic ground for both cultural critique and intercultural tolerance; in fact a better ground for tolerance than cultural relativism which easily leads to indifference.
Description
CITATION: Van der Merwe, W. L. 2001. Erkenning van kulturele verskille. Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe, 41(4):268-282.
The original publication is available at http://www.scielo.org.za
The original publication is available at http://www.scielo.org.za
Keywords
Cultural pluralism
Citation
Van der Merwe, W. L. 2001. Erkenning van kulturele verskille. Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe, 41(4):268-282.