Literary Sources in Culture and Value - Annotated Bibliography Example

Annotated Bibliography: Culture and Value Boudon, R. . The Origin of Values: Sociology and Philosophy of Beliefs. New Jersey: Transaction Publishers. This is a philosophical book by Raymond Boudon, published one year ago; as such is one-year-old since its publication. The choice of this resource material was determined by the subject matter of the book - Values that have since been a central point of focus in both philosophy and social sciences. The book has quite a huge audience since statements regarding what is a good or bad, fair and unfair, legitimate or illegitimate express only belief about human existence and so has tremendously occupied human daily activities. The book, therefore, offers a heated discussion of this centralized concern of human nature especially in respect of how to live well with others in the society. The author, Raymond Boudon is a University Professor and he has published numerous books inclusive of article in academic Journals. Taking into consideration of the difference that values have from culture to culture and century to century, the author presents an empirical, data-based analysis of the presently existing theories about values as he explains why people tend to accept or disregard value statements. The author also classifies deeply the main theories of value that were strongly based on a belief, social, biological factors together those based on rational or utilitarian attitudes. His work has as many similarities as there are differences in comparison to Li (2013) especially regarding his approach to value statement, the origin of values and his proposed reasons as to why people tend to either accept or reject value statement Assessment: This book by Boudon Raymond is helpful in explaining the origin, value, relevance and significance of value to a particular community. This book is instrumental in the application of value theories to political issues and social issues, for instance, in cases such as communitarianism or death penalty, etc. DeAngelis, W. J., (2012). "Ludwig Wittgenstein - A Cultural Point of View: Philosophy in the Darkness of this Time." Farnham: Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. This is a philosophical book by William James DeAngelis, which is currently two years old since its publication. The choice of this book is primarily based on its relevant and explicit explanation of a cultural perspective from the philosophical point of view of Wittgenstein who is known to have tackled the present subject matter-culture and value to some length. William James DeAngelis is an associate Professor of Philosophy and has published numerous philosophical discourses in various academic Journals and Papers. DeAngelis has research interest in various topics that include among others "Philosophy of Mind, Self-Deception, Descartes, Wittgenstein especially Wittgenstein’s Philosophy of Culture and Religion." With quite extensive philosophical background, William’s book is an authority in its right. Giving a philosophical point of view into the culture, DeAngelis’ work targets almost everybody especially those able to understand philosophical concepts. Presenting Ludwig Wittgenstein philosophical concept, DeAngelis develops a deeper understanding of Wittgenstein pessimism about culture of his time and his uncertainties as to whether his ideas would be understood in such an amount of time. Notably, DeAngelis concentrated on the fascinating connection between Wittgenstein and Oswald Spengler especially the enormous influence of Spengler’s Decline of the West. Assessment: This book by William DeAngelis is one very careful and scholarly written resource which is helpful for the current subject matter. Indeed, it offers a splendid guide to Wittgenstein’s philosophical intentions and thoughts. The author’s methodical and careful approach leads the readers to the conclusion that there are new and quite important questions to be asked regarding Wittgenstein’s philosophical intentions. Likely enough, the author also presents some proposed solutions to the possible questions that readers may ask while reading Wittgenstein’s work. Kwame, G. (2014). "Philosophy Culture and Vision: African Perspectives." Legon-Accra: Sub-Saharan Publishers. This is a Philosophical book by Gyekye Kwame and was published seven months ago. The book is suitably selected as a useful resource for the current subject matter because of its direct and plausible philosophical approach that the author uses to tackle the notion of culture and values. Accordingly, the book gives strong support arguments regarding the significance and relevance of culture and values in a selected community. In this book, the Ghanaian philosopher presents a reflective attention to some of the concepts and issues that in his perspective feature most predominately and prominently in the contemporary African cultural, social, political and moral experience. The author Kwame Gyekye is a Professor of Philosophy at the University of Ghana, and he has special interests in African Philosophical Thought, African Cultural Values. As such this philosophical book has authority in its right since the author has credible credentials and expertise in the same field of study. The author relentless pursued a speculative activity which eventuated into a normative proposal which often embody so to say a vision-a vision of an ideal human society in terms of its values, politics, and culture. Gyekye believed that the relevance of his philosophical ideas and insights are to be tethered and closely woven into the fabrics of the culture that produced them. Nonetheless, the relevance of those ideas, at least some of them often tend to transcend the confines of their times and cultures and get appreciated by other societies or cultures. This work by Gyekye, in comparison to Boudon (2013) has similarities in their approach to tackling culture and values; however Gyekye’s book has a narrowed perspective-African perspective. Though written in an African perspective, this book has a wide or maybe global audience with limitation of those keen to understand philosophical concepts and language. Assessment: This book is very important resource material especially regarding the present subject matter. The philosophical ideas given emphasis in this book forms a component of the cultural and historical experience of a stream of people and thus enable a proper look into the people’s culture and values. The author’s philosophical concepts present a philosophical perspective in a stream of people’s politics, governance, science, and technology, etc. Li, D. (2013). Values of our Times: Contemporary Axiological Research in China. New York: Springer Science & Business Media. This is a philosophical book, published one year ago as such is one-year-old. This book grasps researchers attention especially those interested in culture and value because within its narrowed philosophical branch of axiology, the book explores the concept of value which essentially is an abstraction of concrete value formation which is found in various fields including ethics, aesthetics etc. Deshun Li, is a University Professor has extensive academic experience and has published numerous papers, books and articles in academic Journals. According to the author, the problem of value is a problem of the various historical activities of customs and traditions in human society. The author attempt to develop a deepened scientific mode of thinking which is suitable for the nature of value as this would help widen the research on value philosophy as well as promoting the development of the current value philosophy. This book has extensive similarity with the work done by Boudon (2013) in its approach to tackling the problems of value philosophy and value statements. Assessment: This book is a very helpful and handy resource material for the current subject matter. It offers like Raymond’s book the relevance and significance of studying value philosophy of a particular community as well as evaluating values that are basically an important element of axiology. Again it presents the scientific mode of thinking suitable for the nature of value. Additionally, it forms the base of the value relation, explains the origin of value needs and the process by which value is created and actualized. Litwack, E. B. (2009). Wittgenstein and Value: The Quest for Meaning. Edinburgh: A&C Black. This is a philosophical book published five years ago. The book’s selection is greatly influenced by its careful articulation of Wittgenstein’s philosophical understanding of the notion of value and its relevance to a particular culture. Litwack uses simple language to break down Wittgenstein’s complex philosophical ideologies in a straightforward manner suitable for use consumption by non-philosophical mind as well. In this book, the author explores and explains Wittgenstein’s ideas and arguments to the notion of value and its various implications of his work for scholarly debates in the contemporary ethics, esthetics and religious studies. Litwack, in the book, illustrates how Wittgenstein had engaged in a project of philosophical, anthropological nature which indeed set him against the intellectual current of his time. The author uncovers cautiously Wittgenstein’s philosophy of mind and his Philosophy of Language and thus seeks to develop a more consistent expressionistic conception of value in its various manifestations. Moreover, the author explores some of the post-Wittgenstein philosophies especially the analytic Anglo-American tradition as an attempt to understand how the philosophers of these times used Wittgenstein’s arguments to address philosophical problems of their time. Assessment: This book resonates suitably with the Wittgenstein’s philosophic conception of value and culture and so it forms a good resource material for the current subject matter. Latwack successfully develops a consistent conception of value, and so reduces the various manifestation of the same notion. Pohlong, B. (2004). Culture and Religion: A Conceptual Study. New Delhi: Mittal Publications. This a scholarly book by Basil Pohlong published ten years ago. The choice of the book was influenced by the author’s well articulation of the current subject matter- culture and value as well as its discussions on conceptual issues that relates to the central role that religion play in culture. The author has credible credentials with keen interest in Culture with its associated values and Religion, in an attempt to uncover the cultural role in religious practice. Culture according to Pohlong consists of "patterns, explicit and implicit, of and for behavior acquired and transmitted by symbols, constituting the distinctive achievement of human groups, together with their embodiments in artifacts." Further, the essential element of a culture consists of traditional ideas and especially their attached values. Moreover, the author also argues that culture systems, on one hand, may be considered as products of actions, on the other hand as conditioning elements of further action. The book has wide audience especially religious philosophers, theologians and those with scholarly interest in culture and its relation and contribution to religion. The book has simple and well-articulated language usage that has easy readability and understanding for the readers. This book by Pohlong has great similarities to DeAngelis et al. (2012) work especially in both their attempts to relate cultural roles in religious practices. DeAngelis et al. in their work explore an explanation of a cultural perspective from the philosophical point of view of Wittgenstein, which is the same subject of focus by Pohlong Basil. Assessment: This book by Basil Pohlong is very helpful in exploring culture and values which are the primary focus of this assignment. The book gives satisfactory and explicit explanation of culture and values, as well as cultural relevance in religion, under such it brings readers up to speed on the current subject matter. Ting, P., Gao, M. & Li, B. (2002). Dialogue between Christian Philosophy and Chinese Culture. Farnham: Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. This is a book that is twelve years old since its publication. The selection of this resource material is influenced by its careful philosophical articulation of the subject matter, culture. The authors approach the topic of culture through the Wittgensteinian perspective which offers the philosophical outline of a culture of a particular community. The authors, Ting Paschal, Gao Marian and Li Bernard are philosophers in their rights as they have credible credentials in the field of philosophy and so their work in as such authenticated. The book has the particular audience of people who have a philosophical background. Further, the book can attract a wide read because of the simple and direct language usage which though philosophical can be understood by many people who do not necessarily have a philosophical background. The writers take Wittgensteinian approach to understanding the meanings and usage of the term ‘culture’ and by extension Philosophy, which is – at least in this book - considered a culture. Accordingly, culture is its usage is a plural noun: there are very many different cultures whose differences are supposed to be underscored in a global society, especially for their proper values against totalitarian “colonialistic” tendencies. In contrast, however, Philosophy is used as singular with an addition of an adjective such as ancient, modern, contemporary, Greek, Chinese, etc. as an epochal location of a particular philosophy in question. In their treatment of Chinese Culture and philosophy in relation to faith and religion or with their philosophical consequences and presuppositions, the writers concluded that ‘inculturation of Christian faith’ is not only a problem in Christian theology but precisely for the various cultures. The meaning and philosophical approach given to the subject matter has closely knit similarities with what Kwame (2014) said elsewhere in his book. Assessment: Although the philosophical focus of these writers in Chinese culture, it nonetheless presents a plausible resource material of tackling the culture and values issues which are the subject matter of this assignment. Thus, this book is a magnificent resource for the analysis of the present topic. Read More