ABSTRACT
The discourse of the human sciences is a legacy of European heritage (a transplant) in cultures that faced colonialism. These unforeseen contexts from the receiving ends impel the question: is such a discourse a cultural universal? Do all cultures consolidate their reflections of being human in such a discourse? If not, how can one account for the peculiarity of the European discourse? Can we inquire into cultural difference beyond the regional discourse of ethnology and configure European difference from another cultural background (say that of Indian or Chinese)? The collection of essays in this volume affirms the need to configure cultural difference and articulate the impulse of critical humanities from cultures that are “outside in the” European fold.
