Problem kultury jako cywilizacyjnej narracji. Rzecz o uwiedzeniu i interwencji kulturowej

Abstract

The deepest trend of civilization and its history is more cultural than political and economical one. History, as the space of civilization’s development, is not only the result of struggle for power and control in the world, but it is vivified by culture. History’s development and its direction depends on trends and ideas present in it. Culture and symbols, signs, notions and paradigms it contains give dynamics to civilizations. Hidden, invisible stream of culture and ideas it brings along often cause great global events. Therefore religion, language, morals, literature, institutions, social and political symbols are the most important contents of civilization structure – that is what we generally call “culture” Every civilization contains a number of different cultures but the differences are not fundamental. The culture therefore can be seen as a specific environment of meanings, symbols, ideas, assumptions and paradigms. That is why history of civilization and human communities becomes common space where continuous dispute about the meaning is going on. Cultural narratives are animated by civilizations as a kind of coherent stories created, among other things, to try to explain the ways the world functions and values are being chosen. This process of formation of narratives as a coherent cultural contents can be illustrated by comparison of two civilizations and “cultural stories” created by them: that is European Christian civilization of Middle Ages as the goal-directed civilization and modem civilization in which conviction about importance and equality of all possible meanings, propositions and values dominates. Medieval culture tried to intervene when civilization continuity was threatened, because of the conviction that the dignity of human society must be protected against any cultural changes resulting in denial of respect and fidelity to the truth. We can ask whether modem culture, its expression and messages are to be goal-directed? And if so, whose task is it to define this goal? Who determines and evaluates the authenticity of progress and development of mankind? These questions seem to be of extreme importance because they make possible philosophical reflection on what is decisive for permanence of our culture and civilization. Analysis might be helpful in pointing out reasonable sources of social metaorders and interpretations, reading of culture texts and searching for reasons.