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@article{ Hann2001, title = {Gellner's Structural-Functional-Culturalism}, author = {Hann, Chris}, journal = {Sociologický časopis / Czech Sociological Review}, number = {2}, pages = {173-181}, volume = {9}, year = {2001}, urn = {https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:0168-ssoar-53524}, abstract = {Enlightenment traditions celebrating the individual & knowledge that is universally valid are only one stream in the social philosophy of Ernest Gellner. As a philosopher, he vehemently rejected Wittgensteinian relativism. As a social anthropologist, he prioritized the study of 'structure' & 'function,' rather than cultural 'costume.' Yet his theory of nationalism relies on a concept of culture that I suggest derives ultimately from the Herderian countercurrent to enlightenment universalism. This notion of culture has a surprising affinity with the world view of Clifford Geertz. The paper argues that such holistic notions of 'a culture' are unconvincing anthropologically, increasingly unrealistic sociologically, & antiliberal politically.}, }