Curating Intercultural Action: Agency between Epistemologies

Abstract

Sociological, cognitive as well as epistemological differences complicate and often limit or even block intercultural communication. This article theorizes concrete strategies of understanding and interacting across cultural divides, between “us” and “them,” and offers possible strategies of overcoming epistemological differences in curating intercultural action. Inherited traditions and human reason itself complicate the task due to prejudice, epistemic vigilance (Sperber and Mercier), mutual assumptions and other factors. Analysing concrete examples of successful and failed intercultural action, the article draws on sociological concepts of action (Habermas), cognitive science and evolutionary psychology (Dunbar’s concept of mentalisation), and theatre practice (dramaturgical translation). It offers a theory of intercultural action and concrete strategies of curating interactions, which give participants autonomy and agency.