Cultural Theory The Key Thinkers – Andrew Edgar

Happiness is thus an idea which is so indistinct, and there- fore implies a degree of diversity that renders it highly ambiguous. Hence, it cannot be said to be reflected in the world of nature, which ‘is very far from having adopted him [i.e. humanity] as its special darling and benefited him in preference to the other animals, but has in fact spared him no more than any other animal from its destructive work- ings: plague, famine, flood, frost, or attacks from other animals large or small, and so on’ (ibid.).

Moreover, what Kant terms ‘man’s own nat- ural predispositions’ (i.e. the urge of one human to dominate over another, and the species’ propensity to engage in acts of war, etc.) tend to contradict this view still further. For, even if nature were organised so that it satisfied all human needs, human behaviour itself would ensure that happiness was not a viable option for us to conceive of as our purpose.

Humans, however, are distinguished by the fact that they are the only earthly beings which possess understanding, and hence the capacity to set themselves purposes. As such, humans have an instru- mental relationship to nature, and can give it a purpose which is independent of it. Such a purpose would be self-sufficient, and hence a final one. Thus, if nature has a purpose it is by way of reference to humanity, and humanity gains the capacity to seek its ends through culture: ‘Hence only culture can be the ultimate purpose that we have cause to attribute to nature with respect to the human species’ (ibid.).

Culture is thus the condition necessary for giving nature a purpose through the existence of humanity. Culture, for Kant, can be divided into two crucial elements: skill, and discipline. The culture of skill consists in the development of practical ability, principally through the subjective capacities of individuals.

This generally leads to the development of social inequalities, due to the fact that the majority of humans are required to spend their lives pursuing such skills, and thus providing the necessities which others who do not produce them need in order to survive. In consequence, society thus becomes divided into higher and lower classes. As culture develops, these divisions become more marked, and society more unstable. In order to limit this, rules which delineate the relationships between individuals are needed, i.e.

laws which, taken as a whole, constitute civil society. Civil societies are in turn in need of being unified within a cosmopolitan ‘system of all states that are in danger of affecting one another detrimentally’ through war (ibid.). War is, however, a cause of the development of new abilities, and hence contributes to the culture of skill.

Cultural Theory: The Key Thinkers is the essential guide to the | ‘who have shaped contemporary culture and society, and the ~ way in which we view them. The entries offer a lucid analysis of the work of the most influential figures in the _— of 2 cultural ene including: @ Adorno = — e Marx e Bourdieu e Oakeshott — e Freud e Saussure e Leavis @ Wittgenstein With a comprehensive bibliography: and suggestions for further reading, Cultural Theory: The Key Thinkers is the _ ~ perfect introduction for the student and general reader alike.

Andrew Edgar and Peter Sedgwick are both lecturers at __ the University of Wales, Cardiff. They are the authors of -— ~ Cultural Theory: The Key See oe also published by Routledge. — Cultural Studies/Reference Cover design and image: Terry Foley 11 New Fetter Lane ISBN 0-415-23280-5 London EC4P 4EE ~~ 29 West 35th Street | New York NY 10001 Printed in Great Britain tales : 9 “780415 232807 literary critics, sociologists, artists, philosophers and writers Digitized by the Internet Archive In 2022 with funding from Kahle/Austin Foundation https://archive.org/details/culturaltheoryke0000edga COLTURAD REBORN: Lie KEY, teu K ERS Cultural Theory: The Key Thinkers is the essential guide to the literary critics, sociologists, artists, philosophers and writers who have shaped contemporary culture and society, and the way in which we view them.

The entries offer a lucid analysis of the work of the most influen- tial figures in the study of cultural theory, including: e Adorno e Marx e Bourdieu e Oakeshott e Freud e Saussure e Leavis e Wittgenstein With a comprehensive bibliography and suggestions for further read- ing, Cultural Theory: The Key Thinkers is the perfect introduction for the student and general reader alike. Andrew Edgar and Peter Sedgwick are both lecturers at the University of Wales, Cardiff.

They are the authors of Key Concepts in Cultural Theory, also published by Routledge. ROUTLEDGE KEY GUIDES Routledge Key Guides are accessible, informative, and lucid handbooks, which define and discuss the central concepts, thinkers, and debates in a broad range of academic disciplines. All are written by noted experts in their respective subjects. Clear, concise exposition of complex and stimulating issues and ideas make Routledge Key Guides the ultimate reference resources for students, teachers, researchers and the interested lay person.

This is a short excerpt from the opening of “” by Unknown, quoted for review and introduction purposes. All rights belong to the copyright holders.

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