I COLÓQUIO MACROFILOSÓFICO BRASIL II

Summary

The speaker discusses the cultural turn, emphasizing its importance in reshaping the understanding of culture as a political and human phenomenon. They explore the historical context of social sciences and humanities, outlining how the positivist approach in the 19th and 20th centuries led to the specialization and fragmentation of knowledge. The lecture also highlights the role of feminism in politicizing culture, asserting that the concept of culture should be viewed as inherently political. By referencing historical philosophers and theorists, the speaker emphasizes the interconnectedness of cultural, historical, and social phenomena in understanding human society.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker apologizes for delivering the presentation in Spanish, promising to reciprocate in Portuguese if attendees visit Barcelona in the future.
• 😀 The speaker encourages attendees to engage in the debate, offering that the discussion can be conducted in both Spanish and Portuguese.
• 😀 The presentation's main topics are divided into three key areas: cultural turn, its historical and social context, and its implications for human rights and gender politics.
• 😀 The 'cultural turn' refers to an interdisciplinary approach to understanding all human phenomena as cultural, beyond traditional fields like politics or philosophy.
• 😀 The speaker emphasizes that culture should be politicized and not treated as neutral, highlighting the feminist movements of the 1970s for raising this awareness.
• 😀 Feminism in the 1970s introduced the concept of 'the personal is political,' advocating for the inclusion of individual experiences in political discourse.
• 😀 The speaker notes that gender, including that of men, is a cultural construct that requires politicization, as it affects both individuals and institutions.
• 😀 A new generation of human rights is emerging, one that emphasizes cultural and gender issues, which will continue to be politicized in the future.
• 😀 The 'cultural turn' should not be mistaken for a trivial rediscovery of humanity as a cultural species; it marks a shift towards recognizing the political significance of culture.
• 😀 The development of social and human sciences in the 19th and 20th centuries resulted in the positivization of knowledge, leading to specialization and division in the social sciences, but also the possibility for interdisciplinary thinking.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the speaker's presentation?

The speaker is discussing the concept of 'cultural turn' and its significance within the historical, social, and political context. They explore how culture has been politicized and its relevance to human rights and feminism.

What does the speaker mean by the term 'cultural turn'?

The 'cultural turn' refers to the shift in understanding that everything, including politics, law, philosophy, and even the sciences, can be seen as part of culture. It is an interdisciplinary approach to studying human society and knowledge.

How does the speaker relate the 'cultural turn' to feminism?

The speaker links the cultural turn to feminism by highlighting how the feminist movements of the 1970s challenged the idea that culture should not be politicized. They emphasize how feminism politicized both the particular and universal aspects of culture, including gender.

What historical context does the speaker provide for the cultural turn?

The speaker mentions that the cultural turn emerged in response to the positivist approach of the 19th and 20th centuries, which sought to make the social sciences as rigorous as the natural sciences. This led to a division and specialization of knowledge that the cultural turn aims to bridge.

What role does the speaker believe culture plays in shaping human rights?

The speaker argues that culture is a key factor in understanding and defining human rights. They suggest that a new generation of human rights, which includes cultural and gender rights, needs to be politicized and acknowledged as crucial in contemporary discourse.

How does the speaker view the relationship between culture and politics?

The speaker emphasizes that culture is inherently political, and even if culture is not actively politicized, the decision to not politicize it is a political act in itself. They stress the importance of recognizing the political implications of cultural phenomena.

What does the speaker mean by 'gender is also political'?

The speaker highlights that gender, especially the dominant or hegemonic gender, is not just a biological fact but also a political construct. They argue that even men, who are part of the dominant gender, must recognize that their gender identity is also political.

What is the significance of Herodotus in the speaker's discussion of culture?

Herodotus is used by the speaker as an early example of cultural history, where he integrated various disciplines—geography, politics, anthropology—to understand human conflicts. The speaker points out that the 'cultural turn' builds on Herodotus's broad approach to history and culture.

What does the speaker suggest about the evolution of the social sciences?

The speaker discusses the historical development of the social sciences, particularly in the 19th and 20th centuries, where intellectuals like Karl Marx, Max Weber, and Freud helped shape the foundation of the modern social sciences. However, this process also led to the fragmentation and specialization of knowledge.

How does the speaker view the role of philosophy in shaping the social sciences?

The speaker suggests that modern social sciences were originally grounded in philosophy, particularly the philosophy of history, which sought to understand humanity as a whole. They argue that disciplines like law, anthropology, and history evolved from philosophical thought, emphasizing a more integrated view of human society.