- Human behavior and its norms
- Behavioral positions between the real and the ideal
- Marvin Harris Cultural Anthropological Position
- Foucault's anthropological position
- Kantian philosophical position
- References
The behavior between the real and the ideal, in philosophical anthropology, refers to human behaviors that are the result of the relationship with the environment. Ideal behavior refers to expected utopian norms or components of a society, and real behavior is based on concrete actions carried out by individuals.
The combination of both behaviors usually generates a fundamental relationship between the individual and the culture called the norm, in which are the pre-established patterns, such as traditions, values and principles. These utopian norms are inspired by real components and delimited by the criteria of a given society.
Human behavior and its norms
Over time, human behavior has been studied based on the anthropological parameters of a specific culture. As a result, it has been determined that behavioral development can subsist alongside a culture and may be capable of improvement.
In some cases the evolution of these regulations may be subject to changes due to cultural behavior, where the actual behaviors can define the ideal regulations.
However, in order for the behavior of a culture to evolve towards an ideal state, a series of ethical and social norms is needed to regulate the actions of human beings.
The concept of norm is understood as a basic behavior mode that is part of a society as it is generalized by the behavior of the members and transmitted from generation to generation.
Behavioral positions between the real and the ideal
Marvin Harris Cultural Anthropological Position
From a cultural anthropological current, Marvin Harris proposes that there can be contradictory attitudes and values within the same culture.
That is to say, there are norms that can coexist in the same social group even though they are completely opposite. However, they cannot be applied under the same circumstances or at the same time.
The norms are part of a set of elements that are transmitted through society, the family, educational institutions, and even the Church.
Its objective is to impose or direct a behavior towards the correct performance of the action or towards what is expected, such as the ideal behavior.
Foucault's anthropological position
According to Foucault, norms and values are designated concepts proper to behaviors. For this reason, the actual behavior of individuals can also be designated as the morality of behaviors.
Foucault also presents the position that the individual forms himself through various characteristics that refer to ideal behavior based on his real environment. Thus, ideal behavior puts a great deal of pressure on behavior.
Kantian philosophical position
The philosopher Immanuel Kant introduces the concept of will as a free and imperative entity that is not based on any specific norm of conduct, but on its own autonomy.
He also affirms that reason determines the conception of the good as the object of morality, or what it should be.
In his work Critique of Pure Reason (1781) he divides the relationships between the behavior of the real and the ideal into two different aspects of study.
According to his position, the real behavior would correspond to the physiological study, and the ideal behavior to the philosophical study.
References
- Calderón, Cesar. (2004). An analysis of behavior. Santiago, Chile.
- Horney, (1955). Our inner conflicts. Buenos Aires: Psyche.
- Ortega, Claudio. (2002). Existential psychoanalysis. University of the Americas.
- Quijada, Yanet and Inostroza, Carolina. (1998). The ideal self and the real self, according to Karen Horney.
- San Martín, Javier. (2013). Philosophical Anthropology I. From Scientific to Philosophical Anthropology. National University of Distance Education. Madrid.