AFLYST: A critical approach to the concept of culture

Albin Wagener, A critical approach to the concept of culture

Recent research in anthropology, social sciences and feminist studies has shown the practical and theoretical limits of the concept of culture, especially in the case of the old debate between relativism and universalism. Indeed, the political and economic impact of culturalism has been understated and is now being criticized by an expanding number of scholars. The aim of the talk is to expose the links between these limits, and the fact that the very concept of culture may become avoidable altogether in social sciences.

Albin Wagener is Dean of the Faculty of Modern Languages at the Université Catholique de l'Ouest (Angers, France) and has lately been investigating the discourses surrounding the uses and mis-uses of cultures in anthropology and political sciences.

He is currently working on a book that posits the fact that we may not need the very concept of culture anymore in order to understand human relations and collective phenomena.

The lecture is in English. Further information: Dorte Lønsmann, dl.ibc@cbs.dk