ETHNOCENTRISM AND ITS MANIFESTATIONS: A PHILOSOPHICAL REFLECTION

This paper presents a philosophical reflection on the concept of ethnocentrism and its manifestations. The concept of ethnocentrism revolves around the terminologies of race, ethnic group, and ethnicity, their definitions, meanings, and the origins and history of these terms. Its most outstanding features are first, that it acts as a social code that guides individuals’ behaviour who struggle to be relevant and successful in a given cultural setup. Second, it reflects a variety of philosophical, anthropological, and sociological implications. This paper identifies two causes of ethnocentrism, namely, group or communal identity and communal culture. The former deals with shared language, nationality, region, and religion. The latter deals with shared traditions, values, norms, beliefs, among many others. Manifestations of ethnocentrism today are depicted by racism, xenophobia, tribalism, and the caste system. Racism arises when factors such as region, continent, and colour are taken into consideration. It is manifested through social, political, and economic considerations that determine who is superior and inferior, which, therefore, becomes a source of discrimination among the people. Xenophobia is the fear that prevents people from interacting with those viewed as strangers or foreigners. This fear does not enable people to be receptive and accommodating. Tribalism is characterised by the exaltation of one’s tribe or community over another's tribe. The caste system is the stratification of a society based on social class and status. Religion, particularly Hinduism, has been a major contributing factor. A proper understanding of ethnocentrism and its manifestations is thus relevant and useful in the philosophical field because, without it, human suffering continues to be rampant in society. Consequently, it affects human dignity negatively. Finally, this paper will employ a qualitative method in analysing its data.This paper presents a philosophical reflection on the concept of ethnocentrism and its manifestations. The concept of ethnocentrism revolves around the terminologies of race, ethnic group, and ethnicity, their definitions, meanings, and the origins and history of these terms. Its most outstanding features are first, that it acts as a social code that guides individuals’ behaviour who struggle to be relevant and successful in a given cultural setup. Second, it reflects a variety of philosophical, anthropological, and sociological implications. This paper identifies two causes of ethnocentrism, namely, group or communal identity and communal culture. The former deals with shared language, nationality, region, and religion. The latter deals with shared traditions, values, norms, beliefs, among many others. Manifestations of ethnocentrism today are depicted by racism, xenophobia, tribalism, and the caste system. Racism arises when factors such as region, continent, and colour are taken into consideration. It is manifested through social, political, and economic considerations that determine who is superior and inferior, which, therefore, becomes a source of discrimination among the people. Xenophobia is the fear that prevents people from interacting with those viewed as strangers or foreigners. This fear does not enable people to be receptive and accommodating. Tribalism is characterised by the exaltation of one’s tribe or community over another's tribe. The caste system is the stratification of a society based on social class and status. Religion, particularly Hinduism, has been a major contributing factor. A proper understanding of ethnocentrism and its manifestations is thus relevant and useful in the philosophical field because, without it, human suffering continues to be rampant in society. Consequently, it affects human dignity negatively. Finally, this paper will employ a qualitative method in analysing its data.