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Throughout centuries, great thinkers contributed to the discussion on what culture was and how it shaped and was shaped by people. Their perspectives on culture were intertwined with their views on ethics, education, and society.

Aristotle emphasized the city-state's role as a fundamental entity where its members could realize their full potential. He saw culture as a product of civic engagement and education, resulting from developing moral and intellectual virtues. Aristotle and Plato associated culture with aesthetics (beauty) and ethics (goodness).

Michel Foucault examined the relationship between power and knowledge, arguing that cultural institutions (such as prisons, hospitals, and schools) shaped and controlled social behaviour. He believed that culture was a tool for the exercise of power and the regulation of societies.

Pierre Bourdieu introduced the concept of cultural capital, referring to the non-financial assets influencing social mobility, such as education, skills, and tastes. He argued that culture reinforced social hierarchies and power dynamics and emphasized that culture was both a product of social structures and a means of perpetuating them.

In Sources of the Self: The Making of the Modern Identity, Charles Taylor argued that our identity was deeply embedded in our time's cultural narratives and moral frameworks. Taylor advocated for multiculturalism, which acknowledged and valued the contributions of different cultural groups within a society. He believed that cultural diversity enriched society and that cultural practices should be respected and preserved.

Florian Znaniecki developed the theory of culturalism, which focused on culture as a system of values, norms, and symbols that shaped human behaviour and social interactions. He explored how cultural change and migration affected social structures and individual identities.

These philosophers offered diverse perspectives on culture, highlighting its profound impact on human life and society.

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Last modified: Friday, 7 February 2025, 6:27 PM