Society and Culture According to the Three Disciplines

Anthropology considers culture as the central focus of its discipline.

It studies the different cultures of different societies. Anthropology
examines and provides explanations for the existence of different cultural
patterns as well as the similarities and differences between different
cultures. In their studies or various cultures, anthropologists have adopted
two major views with regard to how cultures should be considered in
comparison to others. The relativistic approach considers cultures as
equal. This view holds that there are no "superior" and "inferior" cultures,
and each is unique in its own way.

The ethnocentric approach is the belief that one’s native culture is

superior to other cultures. Ethnocentric societies tend to have a negative
view of other countries and people.

Ethnocentrism diminishes or invalidates “other” ways of life and

creates a distorted view of one’s own. As a result, this could affect
individual behavior and relationships with other cultures. Extreme forms of
ethnocentrism have led to wars or colonization. William Howard Taft, for
example, once referred to the Filipinos as the American’s “little brown
brothers” who needed to be supervised by the United States of America in
establishing a society and government that approximates “Anglo-American
standards.”

Conversely, there are some societies that have the tendency to

consider their culture as inferior to others. This is called xenocentrism.
Some Filipinos share the perception that some aspects of Philippine culture
are inferior compared to foreign cultures, particularly those of our former
colonizers. Filipinos who have this perception are considered as Filipinos
with “colonial mentality.” Another manifestation of xenocentrism and
colonial mentality is the preference of Filipinos to speak in English or other
European languages.

At present, majority of modern societies place emphasis on cultural

relativism, which recognizes and accepts the cultural differences between
societies. This view believes that every aspect of a culture can justified by
the context in which the culture has been formed. No particular culture
therefore can claim superiority over other cultures. However, it calls for a
keen assessment of other cultures to gain a holistic understanding of their
uniqueness. Knowing and understanding the nature and characteristics of
societies and their respective cultures should always precede judgment
and action. Interaction between members of different societies is more
likely to succeed if everybody is aware and is respectful of cultural diversity.

Sociology relates culture with the overall context of social order.

There are different sociological perspectives that explain this order.
Structural functionalism operates on the assumption that society is a stable
and orderly system. Structural functionalists consider culture as a glue that
binds society together, leading to social order. Conflict theory assumes that
there is a constant power struggle among the various social groups and
institutions within society. Conflict theorists study the culture of “dominant
classes” and analyze how this culture is imposed on other classes. The
effective domination of this class facilitated by culture brings about social
order. Symbolic interactionism views individual and group behavior and
social interactions as defining features of society. Symbolic interactionists
believe that culture provides shared meanings to the members of society.
The more meanings are shared, the more society ensures social order.

How are these perspectives applied in looking at Philippine society?

Using a structural functional approach, we can examine the significance of
religion in binding Filipino Roman Catholics, Filipino Muslims, and other
Filipinos who belong to other faiths, and how they can relate to each other
using the same sacred texts, doctrines, beliefs, practices, and other related
symbols. Religion, in this view, becomes the glue that unites Filipinos
together. However, using the conflict approach, Roman Catholicism could
be seen as a cultural tool that is partly responsible for the exclusion of other
local cultures. Through the lens of the symbolic interactionists model,
religion could be viewed as the major factor that affects the general
patterns of behavior and life situations of the members of society. It could
also be suggested that symbols outside the realm of religion can be used to
promote interactions and unite Filipinos of different religions and other
cultural orientations. It can be argued that social order is possible in the
Philippines when Filipinos of different cultures share the same symbols and
meanings.

Political science also examines culture as a vital aspect of society.

Culture, together with political socialization, is analyzed in order to explain
political behavior such as voting patterns and the behavior of leaders.
Culture is seen as an important element in building social capital and could
also lead to future conflicts and division. Political science also looks into the
decline of cultural domination by Western countries and the subsequent
rise of multiculturalism, an ideology that acknowledges and promotes
cultural diversity within society. Multiculturalism entails the establishment of
political groups and institutions comprised of people from diverse cultures.
This view challenges the idea of the nation-state and the advancement of
nationalist and ultranationalist policies.

Multiculturalism in the Philippines is still an on-going process, and its

advancement is largely dependent on government initiatives and policies.
The issue of our national language, for instance, reflects the intricate nature
of advancing multiculturalism in a highly diverse society. While the Filipino
language is mainly based on Tagalog, its main proponents strive to include
words from foreign and local languages. The national language, however,
is not intended to replace the other local languages that the government
still recognizes and intends to preserve.

Instead of cultural relativism, some have advanced the concept of

cultural sensitivity. Cultural relativism implies that all aspects of a
particular culture should be accepted and even celebrated. Cultural
sensitivity advances awareness and acceptance of cultural differences but
encourages a critical stance in dealing with issues regarding diversity. This
view believes that not all cultural practices, traditions, and views can be
integrated, and that distinct cultures can harmoniously coexist in society.
This view advocates a respectful view of the uniqueness and distinctness
of other cultures, and encourages individuals and societies to guard against
ethnocentric and xenocentric views, as these are significant threats to
cultural diversity and social stability.