A Common Human Ground: Universality and Particularity in a Multicultural WorldUniversity of Missouri Press, 07.11.2003 - 168 Seiten A great challenge of the twenty-first century is the danger of conflict between persons, peoples, and cultures, among and within societies. In A Common Human Ground, Claes Ryn explores the nature of this problem and sets forth a theory about what is necessary for peaceful relations to be possible. Many in the Western world trust in “democracy,” “capitalism,” “liberal tolerance,” “scientific progress,” or “general enlightenment” to handle this problem. Although each of these, properly defined, may contribute toward alleviating disputes, Ryn argues that the problem is much more complex and demanding than is usually recognized. He reasons that, most fundamentally, good relations among individuals and nations have moral and cultural preconditions. What can predispose them to mutual respect and peace? One Western philosophical tradition, for which Plato set the pattern, maintains that the only way to genuine unity is for historical diversity to yield to universality. The implication of this view for a multicultural world would be a peace that requires that cultural distinctiveness be effaced as far as possible and replaced with a universal culture. A very different Western philosophical tradition denies the existence of universality altogether. It is represented today by postmodernist multiculturalism—a view that leaves unanswered the question as to how conflict between diverse groups might be averted. Ryn questions both of these traditions, arguing for the potential union of universality and particularity. He contends that the two need not be enemies, but in fact need each other. Cultivating individual and national particularities is potentially compatible with strengthening and enriching our common humanity. This volume embraces the notion of universality, while at the same time historicizing it. Using wide-ranging examples, Ryn presents a firmly sustained and systematic argument centering on this central issue. His approach is interdisciplinary, discussing not only political ideas, but also fiction, drama, and other arts. Scholarly and philosophical, but not specialized, this book will appeal to general readers as well as intellectuals. |
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Seite viii
... influence extends beyond the academic world. She is known for her strong interest in Chinese culture in relation to issues of globalization. Though the Chengdu meeting had an international flavor and was quite large, there were but a ...
... influence extends beyond the academic world. She is known for her strong interest in Chinese culture in relation to issues of globalization. Though the Chengdu meeting had an international flavor and was quite large, there were but a ...
Seite ix
... influence in China before communism. Today, as China struggles to define its postcommunist identity, the interest in Babbitt has revived. The main sponsor of my lecture series at Beijing University was Professor Yue, who, besides having ...
... influence in China before communism. Today, as China struggles to define its postcommunist identity, the interest in Babbitt has revived. The main sponsor of my lecture series at Beijing University was Professor Yue, who, besides having ...
Seite x
... influential, and intrusive than it once was. That ideas like mine would be tolerated in China and welcomed among leading scholars is one indication among many that Chinese society is slowly shedding its totalitarian ways. I hasten to ...
... influential, and intrusive than it once was. That ideas like mine would be tolerated in China and welcomed among leading scholars is one indication among many that Chinese society is slowly shedding its totalitarian ways. I hasten to ...
Seite xi
... influenced by thinkers of many nationalities, notably Irving Babbitt, an American, and Benedetto Croce, an Italian. Thinkers from other countries, including Germany and England, have affected my outlook. In Sweden I had the good fortune ...
... influenced by thinkers of many nationalities, notably Irving Babbitt, an American, and Benedetto Croce, an Italian. Thinkers from other countries, including Germany and England, have affected my outlook. In Sweden I had the good fortune ...
Seite 8
... influenced many Asian students, some of whom became prominent in their own countries. Chinese students of his contributed to the periodical Xueheng (Critical Review). The movement they started is today receiving new interest. 1. The ...
... influenced many Asian students, some of whom became prominent in their own countries. Chinese students of his contributed to the periodical Xueheng (Critical Review). The movement they started is today receiving new interest. 1. The ...
Inhalt
5 | |
11 | |
20 | |
26 | |
Chapter Five | 36 |
Chapter | 46 |
Chapter Seven | 60 |
Chapter Nine | 99 |
Chapter | 118 |
Appendix | 135 |
Andere Ausgaben - Alle anzeigen
A Common Human Ground: Universality and Particularity in a Multicultural World Claes G. Ryn Eingeschränkte Leseprobe - 2003 |
A Common Human Ground: Universality and Particularity in a Multicultural World Claes G. Ryn Keine Leseprobe verfügbar - 2019 |
A Common Human Ground: Universality and Particularity in a Multicultural World Claes G. Ryn Keine Leseprobe verfügbar - 2003 |
Häufige Begriffe und Wortgruppen
abstract universalism achievements actual aesthetical Allan Bloom antihistoricist artistic assume awareness beauty become Beijing University Benedetto Croce century Chinese Christianity circumstances civilization Claes G common human ground concrete consciousness cosmopolitan creativity Croce cultivate deeply democracy develop discussion distinctive doctrine Edmund Burke effort elites Enlightenment epistemology ethical example experiential genuine harmony heritage higher potential historical particularity human existence human experience human nature ideas identity Imagination and Reason individuals insight intellectual intuition Irving Babbitt Jacobins kind lectures Leo Strauss life’s higher living man’s manifest mankind meaning modern moral and cultural multiculturalism National Humanities Institute neo-Jacobins one’s past peace philosophical Plato political possible postmodernism postmodernist reality realized recognize relations respect Richard Rorty Rousseau sense social standard Strauss superficial synthesis thinkers thinking thought tion today’s tradition transcendent truly truth understanding uniqueness universal values universality and particularity value-centered historicism versatile society view of human Western world