The title „Closing the book of Culture” implies the end of a process; the process of reading the book of culture and to behave and act on the basis of the contents of the book. The contents are either fully understood and the book can be shelved to be reopened occasionally for purposes such as educational ones, for example, or, alternatively, the paradigm contained in the book has been transcended and the contents have become partly or fully obsolete.
The present exposé can be considered as a process of returning for a moment to the old paradigm in order to connect it to the new, supposedly more advanced one.
Table of Contents
1. The completion of the intercultural edifice
2. Design of a scientifically-based diversity-integrative transcultural profiler
2.1 The state of the intercultural art and science:
On human relativity in intercultural research
2.2 Enhancing the intercultural art and science:
Sources, models and the achievement of supreme cultural intelligence
3. Summary of Inter-/Transcultural Management Instruments
4. Bilingual English-German terminology of complementary intercultural and transcultural management
Objectives and Core Themes
The primary objective of this work is to present a paradigm shift in intercultural research by moving from a dualistic, diversity-based approach toward an integrative, transcultural perspective. The central research question explores how to transcend the limitations of current intercultural management models to achieve a "complete map of culture" that fosters sustainable global cooperation.
- The integration of particle-like cultural data with wave-like dynamic momentum.
- The utilization of a neurophysiological analogy to create a hierarchized system of consciousness.
- The application of the "Transcultural Profiler" as a tool for global management.
- The critical analysis of how cultural identity can evolve from division to a unified "solidary human family."
- The transition from mechanistic intercultural management to consciousness-based management.
Excerpt from the Book
The completion of the intercultural edifice
When one leaves the land of diversity-based duality knowledgeably one enters the “promised land” of human unity. In hindsight the former can be seen in the latter’s likeness. Both are part of a complete map of culture.
The title „Closing the book of Culture” implies the end of a process; the process of reading the book of culture and to behave and act on the basis of the contents of the book. The contents are either fully understood and the book can be shelved to be reopened occasionally for purposes such as educational ones, for example, or, alternatively, the paradigm contained in the book has been transcended and the contents have become partly or fully obsolete.
The present exposé can be considered as a process of returning for a moment to the old paradigm in order to connect it to the new, supposedly more advanced one. When we look back at the brief history of culture, interculturalism and associated intercultural research that has been inaugurated in the late 20th century, we note that it responds to perceived needs in the world of globalizing business, diplomacy and strategy. Among the first intercultural scholars in the modern sense therefore were theoreticians who were more or less involved in these domains and institutional or organizational environments. One thinks of the American anthropologist Hall and the Dutchmen Hofstede and Trompenaars.
Summary of Chapters
1. The completion of the intercultural edifice: This chapter introduces the core thesis that current intercultural models are incomplete and proposes a shift toward a more comprehensive, integrative transcultural paradigm.
2. Design of a scientifically-based diversity-integrative transcultural profiler: This chapter details the development of a diagnostic instrument based on neurophysiological analogies to map the psychological infrastructure of global managers.
2.1 The state of the intercultural art and science: This section critiques current mainstream intercultural research, highlighting its limitations in addressing the root causes of cultural conflicts.
2.2 Enhancing the intercultural art and science: This section explores how transdisciplinary insights, including quantum physics principles, can provide a more sustainable framework for cultural intelligence.
3. Summary of Inter-/Transcultural Management Instruments: This chapter compiles practical models and frameworks, such as the ORJI and PIE methods, for navigating complex intercultural environments.
4. Bilingual English-German terminology of complementary intercultural and transcultural management: A comprehensive glossary providing definitions for key concepts in the field, facilitating the understanding of terminology in both English and German.
Keywords
Transculturalism, Intercultural Management, Cultural Intelligence, Paradigm Shift, Neurophysiological Analogy, Consciousness, Diversity, Integration, Global Business, Cultural Profiling, Complementarity, Unity, Globalization, Synergy, Human Consciousness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental goal of this book?
The goal is to propose a "paradigm shift" in the field of culture studies, advocating for a transition from a surface-level, dualistic perception of cultural diversity toward a deeper, integrative, transcultural management philosophy.
What are the primary themes discussed in the work?
Key themes include the limitation of existing intercultural models, the necessity of mapping human consciousness as a whole, the metaphorical application of quantum physics in cultural management, and the movement from divisive interaction to synergistic integration.
How is the "Transcultural Profiler" utilized?
The Transcultural Profiler serves as a 12-dimensional diagnostic tool that helps global managers assess their psychological infrastructure and move toward higher levels of cultural consciousness.
What scientific methods are integrated into the research?
The author uses interdisciplinary approaches, incorporating concepts from neurophysiology, quantum physics (such as complementarity and uncertainty principles), and traditional philosophical and religious perspectives on oneness.
How does the work address the issue of cultural conflict?
The work argues that cultural conflict is an indicator of "deficitary" understanding; by re-integrating the divisive aspects of culture with unifying ones, global managers can mitigate these conflicts.
Which specific scholars influence the author's arguments?
The author draws upon the work of E.T. Hall, Geert Hofstede, Fons Trompenaars, Nancy Adler, Ed Schein, and the consciousness researcher Dr. Thérèse Brosse.
What distinguishes "Transcultural" from "Intercultural" management?
While intercultural management focuses on the study of specific, often dualistic differences between groups, transcultural management emphasizes the unifying dimensions that exist above and through these differences, leveraging a "meta-level" of consciousness.
How does the author interpret the concept of "cultural memory"?
The author suggests that deep-seated cultural conditioning stored in human memory often dictates our reactions; therefore, true mastery requires rising above these conditioned responses through self-awareness.
- Arbeit zitieren
- D.E.A./UNIV. PARIS I Gebhard Deissler (Autor:in), 2012, Closing the Book of Culture, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/193778
