Philosophy as a Mediating Institution and the Problem of Tradition in Canada

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article turns to the question of tradition that emerges from the relation to one’s transmitted practices and to the practices others hope to transmit and use. To overcome the conflicts that arise in the context of a variety of recourses to diverse traditions, it draws on Fernand Dumont’s concept of “mediating institutions” and his reflection on philosophy as referring to a tradition of radical self-questioning. Dumont developed his ideas in response to great social changes within Québécois society brought by industrialization and the separation of religion from everyday life. However, his approach to the problem of social cohesion, which continues to be pursued by recent Québécois (and Canadian) governments, did not address the presence of a variety of traditions. To take into account the hegemonic processes at play in the protection and legislation of culture, this article also draws on Himani Bannerji’s critique of tradition and of official multiculturalism. By creating a dialogue between Dumont and Bannerji—two sociologists who also understand themselves to be philosophers and who think at a distance from the Canadian nation-building project—it addresses the question of non-hegemonic mediations between sets of traditions, and seeks to develop a critical conception of tradition.