Two Understandings of Difference and the Role of General Education

Abstract

One of the key characteristics that defines modern society is the emergence of ‘differences’. While traditional societies avoided ‘differences’ and sought unity, modern society recognizes the existence of diverse religious, political, cultural, and philosophical viewpoints as an undeniable given of a social existence. In this social existence where differences are highlighted, we are constantly exposed to the question of how to accept the existence of differences. Through this paper, the author examines two perspectives for understanding and interpreting the existence of differences, and attempts to show the effect that these two perspectives have on the spirit of general education in universities.</br>The first perspective sees that the existence of various religious, political, cultural, and philosophical viewpoints should be resolved in the process of reaching one objective and universal viewpoint. Another view sees the existence of plural views on various topics, including philosophical, religious, and cultural views as the exact description of human living. According to this viewpoint, the reality of difference is not a tentative state that must undergo the process of moving toward something, but rather a natural state that humans must accept as such.</br>These two views stem from different epistemological backgrounds regarding knowledge. In this article, the author argues that general education at universities, which aims to provide a broad understanding of humans, society, and nature, has an obligation to provide comprehensive knowledge when it comes to these two perspectives. The author further argues that university education focused on major subjects cannot sufficiently fulfill its role in conveying comprehensive knowledge concerning these two perspectives.