The End of History and Comparison of Cultures

Konec dějin a komparace kultur

Jan Kozák

E-LOGOS, 2019, vol. 2019, issue 1, 19-33

Abstract: The author makes the effort to demonstrate, that given appropriate criteria it is possible (and useful) to compare different cultures and set them into hierarchical order. This work utilizes both the method of conjectural history (Smith, Hume) and the contribution Hayek made to the methodology (compositive method). In accordance with the concept of freedom as developed by Kant, Hegel, Černý or Patočka and following up the works of Francis Fukuyama, the author employs the concept of "ideal type" of end of history. This is conceptualized by classical liberal democracy and capitalism in the form of free market competition. As shown by historical evidence, progressing towards this civilizational highlight is inherent to the very course of history. It is only the combination of classical liberal democracy and laissez-faire capitalism that enables satisfaction of all human needs and cultivating of human nature to the maximum extent; this type of system allows supreme level of individual freedom, identical with law and including the responsibility for legal and political order, thus making the spontaneous market competition possible. This specific concept of developed freedom does only occur in the Western culture. The remaining part of this article makes the argument that integration of members of cultures with less developed concept of freedom is problematic.

Keywords: End of history; Liberalism; Culture; Liberal Democracy; Individual Freedom; konec dějin; liberalismus; kultura; liberální demokracie; individuální svoboda (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.18267/j.e-logos.461

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