Hi again, As I'm sure Jim Clark already suspected, terms like "Eurocentric Fallacy" and "Eurocentric Syndrome" are just too rife with possibility for the purpose of critiquing hegemonic schemes/pursuits to not have been coined by others. Just for fun (and because I'm trying to avoid doing some boring work), I spent a little time looking up how these terms have been used in various "domains of discourse."
Eurocentric Fallacy "The Eurocentric fallacy refers to the West hierarchically expanding into a world 'in need' of Europe's self-described supreme characteristics such as alphabetic literacy." Baca-Espinosa, D. (2008). Mestiz@ Scripts, Digital Migrations, and the Territories of Writing (New Concepts in Latino American Cultures). Palgrave Macmillan. http://books.google.com/books?id=541M0NbpaLoC&pg=PA142&lpg=PA142&dq=%22Eurocentric+Fallacy%22&source=bl&ots=aKE7ua2-Zy&sig=5AG9Xcwp1mB9ea4pzgdC-1fQafQ&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ujopUKilNciirAGB1ICoCw&sqi=2&ved=0CFEQ6AEwAg >From a faculty page on the University of Edinburgh web site: One area of research interest: "Conceptualisations of 'blackness', and the Eurocentric fallacy of "monolithic constructions of black identity" with regards to reporting on school performance." http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/education/about-us/people/research-students?person_id=310&cw_xml=profile.php >From a web site discussing Marxism: "The assertion that tribal people do not maintain 'intelligible and reasonable relations' with each other and with nature is a notion derived in whole from the generalized Eurocentric fallacy that European culture is necessarily, and by definition, as it were, superior to all other forms of human culture and society." http://www.religiouseducation.co.uk/school/alevel/20cent/general/marxism/Karl%20Marx%20on%20Tribal%20Religion.htm Eurocentric Syndrome This is from a book discussing anthropological research during the peak of the colonial period in Africa: "Romantic preoccupation with the exotic, with its implicit evolutionary assumptions -- 'exploring with ...' This is a common Eurocentric syndrome." Huizer, G., & Mannheim, B. (1979). The Politics of Anthropology: From Colonialism and Sexism Toward a View from Below. http://books.google.com/books?id=BSbgFG4ekIsC&pg=PA155&lpg=PA155&dq=%22Eurocentric+Syndrome%22&source=bl&ots=UAeElBBjhq&sig=XaVQp-njndHHBPIb1J55h_a-Mfc&hl=en&sa=X&ei=5DQpULihEI7sqAGnroDYCQ&ved=0CEMQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=%22Eurocentric%20Syndrome%22&f=false >From a discussion on a web site about acting and actors: "Reality is, BW [black women] are sized up in the black community based on skin shade and hair type. The darker you are the more 'masculine' you’re perceived, which is a crying shame. Eurocentric syndrome." http://www.clutchmagonline.com/2011/07/is-your-weave-holding-you-back-from-your-man/ >From a forum about football (soccer): "Yeah, the old Eurocentric syndrome, we've seen it happening dozens of times before. When the player is in a Brazilian club he's 'not proven in the bigger stages' or he's 'not good enough'. Then that player goes to an European team, and when the Euro fans see that in fact the player kicks arse, they acknowledge that he's awesome. Crossing the atlantic really does wonders for these players, huh?" http://www.xtratime.org/forum/showthread.php?t=96771 In fact, I suspect that many, many nouns have appeared after 'Eurocentric' in various critiques (hence, the title of this post). How about 'Eurocentric Science'? I decided to save time and look at only one blog post titled "Definitions: Eurocentric Science," which you can read here: https://c4reapalife.wordpress.com/2011/06/23/definitions-eurocentric-science/ "Eurocentric science does not mean 'science of European origin'.... Eurocentric refers to a set of philosophical propositions that are rooted in Greco-Roman philosophy and during that period called the Enlightenment. Among the basic ideas of this worldview are the idea that the material world is defining and real in contrast to the spiritual one. That objectivity is possible and desirable. That the world is made of subjects and objects in a hierarchical relationship and of irreconcilable antagonistic opposites like hot versus cold that are deemed mutually exclusive." Eurocentric Science was founded on the desire to: "control ... people, resources, and land, providing what passed as objective truth (actually intersubjectivity among Eurocentric scholarly bodies composed of people educated and credentialed in the philosophical worldview) as a justification for the same and of course, simultaneously invalidating the “truths” and the humanities and cultures of those who would be its victims." I know that, over the centuries, certain scientific projects have included such goals. And Francis Bacon's writings are a great source for quotes reflecting these goals. For example: "Knowledge and human power are synonymous, since the ignorance of the cause frustrates the effect; for nature is only subdued by submission, and that which in contemplative philosophy corresponds with the cause in practical science becomes the rule." (1620, Novum Organum, Aphorism III) On the other hand, I would argue (and have argued) that the methods, procedures, etc., used in scientific research are the best "ways of knowing" we have for understanding nature. The uses to which scientific research is put can be X-centric (where X stands for the culture, nation, society, or civilization one wishes to critique), but the scientific approach is a tried-and-true" method for knowing the world around us. I'm done playing the "Eurocentric [fill in the blank]" game. Gotta get back to work. Best, Jeff -- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jeffry Ricker, Ph.D. SCC: Professor of Psychology MCCCD: General Studies Faculty Representative PSY 101 Website: http://sccpsy101.wordpress.com/ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scottsdale Community College 9000 E. Chaparral Road Scottsdale, AZ 85256-2626 Office: SB-123 Phone: (480) 423-6213 Fax: (480) 423-6298 --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=19713 or send a blank email to leave-19713-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
