How Intercultural Philosophy Can Contribute to Social Integration

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper will investigate whether or not intercultural philosophy conceived as a cooperative activity can be used to reflect and broaden the horizon of philosophy through reciprocal engagements by different socio-cultural blocs. We argue that the concept of social integration is met with so much uncertainty in a world where the influences of colonialism and coloniality bid to impose the cultural particular of the West on the rest of the world. This has created a divisive world of insider and outsider, superior and inferior forms of cultural othering. As a result, people often focus on the differences that exist among worldviews and experiences while overlooking the importance of social collaboration between different socio-cultural blocs. Our aim in this paper is to tap into intercultural philosophy, and use the framework of complementary reflection to illustrate how social collaboration can be attained by undermining cultural hegemony. To achieve this aim, we employ an understanding of intercultural philosophy as a cooperative activity and explore how it can help broaden the horizon of diverse worldviews with the purpose of reciprocal enlightenment.