Bongo-Bongoism

In an interview with DIE ZEIT, ethnologist Prof. Dr. Christoph Antweiler explains the term Bongo-Bongoism this way:

„I, too, grew up as a relativist in ethnology. There, it was considered a special scientific achievement to prove that something we take for granted does not occur among the Bongo Bongo people. In specialist circles one speaks of „Bongo-Bongoism“. Exaggerated relativism is unfortunately the mainstream in cultural studies today.“

What’s problematic about that?

Antweiler’s answer: „I’m a fairly apolitical person, and that’s why I also think the basic maxim of cultural relativism is right: we shouldn’t judge, because all cultures are fundamentally equal and coherent in themselves. But I warn against exaggerated cultural relativism, which quickly turns into cultural racism. The old racism said: We live in one world, but we are different people, the yellow, the black, the red and so on. Ultrarelativism says: We are all human beings, but we live in completely different worlds, i.e. cultures. In the extreme case, it is then claimed that the cultures are incompatible and cannot communicate with each other. This is scientifically unsound and politically dangerous.“

Universals

As a contrast term the so-called Adamism can be mentioned. This refers to the (mainly religious) idea that all humans have a (divine) origin (Adam/Eve) and are therefore basically very similar. Antweiler uses the term universals for this.

Literature

Antweiler, Christoph (2009): Heimat Mensch. What connects us all. Hamburg: Murmann.

Antweiler, Christoph (2009): Interview with Christoph Antweiler [June 2019].