How Culture Misdirects Multiculturalism

Abstract

In the ongoing debates over whether, or what sort of , multiculturalism should be curricularly provided, the origin, evolution, and rhetorical function of the basic term culture has been unwisely neglected. Having been accepted as a key term of anthropological discourse, the term conveys sufficient authority to misdirect political‐educational energies. Viewing humanity historically, it is sounder to think in terms of an ecumene, and educationally, to return to the notion of culturing.