Understanding Human Culture: Diversity, Dynamics, and Values
Understanding Human Culture
In human culture, we distinguish different types of information:
Description
Explains and represents reality, allowing us to understand the operation and characteristics of our environment. Descriptions can be grouped into several types, depending on the degree of certainty and objectivity they provide, such as science, popular beliefs, myths, and legends.
Practice
Provides guidelines for action, teaching us how to perform tasks effectively. It trains us for the development of techniques to modify the environment.
Values
Originates feelings of attraction or rejection of what surrounds us. Enables us to appreciate our surroundings as desirable and worthy of esteem, or the opposite. Allows the possession of norms, prejudices, and ethical and political ratings.
Positions on Cultural Diversity
When people are faced with lives, beliefs, behaviors, and customs other than their own, they react in many ways. Attitudes towards cultural diversity include:
Ethnocentrism
The attitude of judging and valuing the culture of other groups based on one’s own cultural beliefs.
Racism
Beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors based on the consideration that some races are superior to others, defending the idea that some human races are subhuman.
Xenophobia
An attitude of contempt and rejection of everything foreign, different, or strange.
Cultural Relativism
The position that considers it impossible to compare or evaluate the characteristics of different cultures.
Universalism
Suggests a rejection of ethnocentric attitudes to avoid imposing views on other cultures, based on a real dialogue that facilitates the convergence of cultural traits that have proven effective.
Interculturalism and Dialogue
Stems from the recognition of cultural pluralism as an enriching fact that can help us better understand the world and ourselves.
Dynamics of Culture
Cultural Mutation
Involves, in some cases, the introduction of new content, and in others, the modification of existing content. Mutation may be due to a voluntary intention (invention) or unintentional errors.
Cultural Transmission
The transfer of information horizontally (between individuals of the same generation) and vertically (from parents to children).
Cultural Dissemination
The transfer of cultural elements from one culture to another, spontaneously or forced.
Cultural Drift
A culture can be fragmented into several groups by isolation.
Cultural Choice
Explains the transfer of elements from one culture to another for effectiveness.
The Person
Features of the person:
Value
Every human being is absolutely unique and unrepeatable, and their value is incalculable.
Dignity
Whatever their circumstances, they unconditionally merit and should be treated with respect.
Freedom
People are free in their choices and their actions.
Ethical Commitment
A being open to others, seeking to understand the ideals of dignity and freedom for all humanity.