Cultures construed as all-embracing systems
pp. 798-836
in: , The selected works of Arne Naess, Berlin, Springer, 2005Abstract
The aim of this chapter is to examine the extent to which problems dealt with in relation to philosophical systems also arise in relation to cultures. This especially concerns the possibility of describing a philosophical or cultural system within the framework of another system. It also concerns the possibility of comparing systems in a neutral way—hence without relying on the concepts of one system or construing the other in terms of them. In addition, we are interested in both examining the possibility of indicating criteria for the depth of philosophical and cultural differences and exploring the influence of these different levels of variance on mutual understanding and comparability.