Thinking Failure in the War in Iraq: The Cultural Turn and the Concept of “World”
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Jon Askonas
Abstract
This article demonstrates the power of the phenomenological concept of ‘world’, and so the importance of philosophical concepts and philosophers, by considering the case of the U.S. Army’s ‘cultural turn’. After invading Iraq, the U.S. military found that soldiers lacked the training necessary for longterm engagement with a civilian population. Turning to anthropology and sociology, it introduced the concepts of culture, cultural awareness, and cultural sensitivity into its training. We argue that these concepts are crude and inadequate, and that the concept of world does a better job of illuminating the differences and similarities between soldiers’ and civilians’ respective lived systems of meaning. Through this case, we can see why we need philosophers and philosophy.
Abstract
This article demonstrates the power of the phenomenological concept of ‘world’, and so the importance of philosophical concepts and philosophers, by considering the case of the U.S. Army’s ‘cultural turn’. After invading Iraq, the U.S. military found that soldiers lacked the training necessary for longterm engagement with a civilian population. Turning to anthropology and sociology, it introduced the concepts of culture, cultural awareness, and cultural sensitivity into its training. We argue that these concepts are crude and inadequate, and that the concept of world does a better job of illuminating the differences and similarities between soldiers’ and civilians’ respective lived systems of meaning. Through this case, we can see why we need philosophers and philosophy.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Table of Contents V
- Acknowledgements VII
- Introduction: Why Philosophy? IX
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I. What Is Philosophy?
- Doing Philosophy 3
- The House Always Wins: Why Philosophy Isn’t Optional 15
- Why We Need Philosophy – and Philosophers 27
- Irreverent Thoughts on the Relevance of Philosophy 41
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II. What can Philosophy Contribute?
- Philosophy, Bias, and Stigma 51
- Thinking Failure in the War in Iraq: The Cultural Turn and the Concept of “World” 65
- The Role of Philosophy in “Post-Truth” Times 81
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III. What can Philosophy do?
- A Robot Took My Boyfriend and My Job: Positioning Philosophy for a Resurgence 105
- Good for Nothing: On Philosophy and its Discontents 123
- On Thinking in a Thoughtless Time 151
- Contributors 173
- Index of Names 177
- Index of Subjects 181
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Table of Contents V
- Acknowledgements VII
- Introduction: Why Philosophy? IX
-
I. What Is Philosophy?
- Doing Philosophy 3
- The House Always Wins: Why Philosophy Isn’t Optional 15
- Why We Need Philosophy – and Philosophers 27
- Irreverent Thoughts on the Relevance of Philosophy 41
-
II. What can Philosophy Contribute?
- Philosophy, Bias, and Stigma 51
- Thinking Failure in the War in Iraq: The Cultural Turn and the Concept of “World” 65
- The Role of Philosophy in “Post-Truth” Times 81
-
III. What can Philosophy do?
- A Robot Took My Boyfriend and My Job: Positioning Philosophy for a Resurgence 105
- Good for Nothing: On Philosophy and its Discontents 123
- On Thinking in a Thoughtless Time 151
- Contributors 173
- Index of Names 177
- Index of Subjects 181
