Multicultural philosophy is often associated with the existence of different races, and how these races coexist with each other. It is concerned with the equality of cultural and political status of various cultural groups in the society: different races and cultures living under one roof following the same set of rules. It is more about the cultural and ethnic diversity of a country, wherein the society’s nationhood is realized by recognizing the cultural identity of the people living in the place. Diversity is greatly accepted and that it is considered to be a positive factor concerning the growth of a nation.
Regarding the assimilation of the various cultural groups, multicultural philosophy requires these groups to fall out or separate from the homogeneous norm (their individual beliefs, culture, etc.) and assimilate or embrace the dominant culture paradigm. This should be done without changing or adjusting the content of the dominant group. They should be the ones to adopt the ways of the dominant culture group and should follow the norms of the society they are in. With this, they are able to blend and adapt to the environment they are in. This is applied with the various cultures of the immigrant groups coming and settling in a country.
There are various concerns which are given important emphases regarding multicultural philosophy of social science. This includes immigration, religion, and the influence on the dominant culture. These concerns play an important role in discussing the multicultural philosophy of social science, since it is the core concerns of the concept itself. Immigration is considerably relevant, since it fuels multicultural philosophy – people from other places moving towards another would result to a diversification of the culture in the place they are moving in to. Religion is undeniably a major determinant of a culture, since it influences beliefs and ideologies of the people of a certain culture. And lastly it is essential too know what effects does multicultural philosophy of the society have on the dominant culture itself.
Immigration
Multicultural philosophy is greatly associated with immigration in various countries. It has raised a lot of inquiries regarding the security of the new inhabitants of a certain country, which are the products of immigration. It has also posed concerns regarding separation and inequality and how it can be avoided (Auster, 2002).
Immigration has greatly affected the conglomeration of culture, since it becomes a basis of change in the actual environment a person is living in. It has brought different people in a different place, and surely, their beliefs are being assimilated or influenced by their differences. Immigration on multicultural societies becomes participatory: it adds new ideas and integrates the old beliefs into new ones, resulting to something that would both suit the mainstays and the immigrants.
Immigration also challenges the history and the languages of a certain nation, since it introduces a different thinking. But with the multicultural philosophy, it ensures that these immigrants are the ones to adapt to the dominant culture. Immigration is more of an addition to the previous components of the society: they are welcomed to join in but they should not distort or change the old ways. If they really want to be assimilated in the dominant culture, they should learn to adapt the existing culture’s language, ideologies, practices and beliefs. They should be obedient to their laws, even if it was different compared to where they came from (Skaptadóttir and Loftsdóttir, 2006).
Multicultural philosophy dictates on what the immigrants should follow. Even though immigration brings a large number of people to another place, it doesn’t mean that these people would alter the existing culture of the country they are immigrating into. It means that they should be the ones to accommodate change, since the place they are moving into will not be liable to accepting modifications or alterations.
Religion
Religion is a concern that needs to be addressed in the advent of multicultural philosophy. It is evident that it induces a friction between the existing religion of the existing dominant culture and the new culture that wishes to be included (example is the immigrating culture versus the host country). This could mean a possible unrest or internal conflict within the bounds of a nation. This is because of the complexities, especially when it comes to the religious beliefs that exist (McLaughlin, 2007).
Various religions may contradictory to each other. These differences could elicit dispute within the people and be a considerable cause of commotion. This could lead to civil disarray, something that would really hit the country politically and economically. Take for example the case of Bosnia and Herzegovina; it is a Muslim country that opposes multiculturalism simply because they dislike living with Christians. They disapprove Christian immigration because the want to preserve their country’s tradition. They don’t want these traditions be eradicated by these immigrants with different beliefs.
Religion has greatly raised the concern regarding multicultural philosophy. They consider it as the main factor that elicits disagreement, especially for the Muslim countries that does not intend to be intermixed with Christians. They want to preserve their country as a straight-Islam ideology and don’t want it to get tainted with Christian ideologies. Islamic traditions in the western world have caused quite a rise in the debate of the multicultural philosophy. The religion has been a symbol of difference in the national community, since it has been difficult to mix there ideas to that of other religions (Dawson, 1999).
These Muslims have become a distinctly visible minority; there presence proving a great deal of concern to the nations they are on. Because of this, some countries were forced to impose a ban on certain religious practices or cultures that could entice commotion and certain problems. Multicultural philosophy had really become a great deal of concern to the government.
The importance of Multicultural Philosophy to Social Scientists
In the advent of multicultural philosophy, social scientist are able to have a better grasp on what is happening to a nation who is reach in on culture; varying races and ideologies alike. Multicultural Philosophy became a basis of understanding for these scientists, since it is a broad topic of concern, encompassing other issues like religion, politics, human rights and many more (Sampaio, 2006). Social scientists are able to understand these things further, basing their inferences on multicultural philosophy; they are able to explain concepts that pose great irregularities. Because of these, they are able to channel these facts to the people better, thus making the people aware of certain things, like how could the cultural differences be detrimental to national peace, etc. They are able to know what they should do regarding these concerns. Information is a great tool on order to solve problems and differences, thus leading a more peaceful society.
