Metodo

International Studies in Phenomenology and Philosophy

Book | Chapter

224144

The ontological concept of culture as cultivation

Johan Fornäs

pp. 11-23

Abstract

Part I of this book clarifies what culture can mean, sorting out its conceptual history so as to bring some sense into the extraordinary conceptual confusion. Here, numerous applications, uses and critical discussions of the concept are thematised, in research as well as in public debate. First, this chapter presents the historically most ancient "ontological" definition that links culture to cult and cultivation. Its gradual development is traced, and it is also shown how it remains in use today, though some of its aspects seem increasingly problematic, not least its reliance on a rather stiff binary division between nature and culture.

Publication details

Published in:

Forns Johan, Fornäs Johan (2017) Defending culture: conceptual foundations and contemporary debate. Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan.

Pages: 11-23

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-57810-1_2

Full citation:

Fornäs Johan (2017) The ontological concept of culture as cultivation, In: Defending culture, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan, 11–23.