The Role of Cultural Memory in Shaping National Identity: A Philosophical and Axiological Inquiry

Abstract

Memories of history constitute an important aspect of collective and national identity as they are recollections of the unique past experiences, events, customs as well as values. In this research, the focus is on the philosophical and axiological aspects of cultural memory: how these aspects construct national consciousness and its impact on social unity. Culturally, memory serves as a definition of identity which brings in notions of unification and history. Memory, in the words of Maurice Halbwachs and Paul Ricoeur, has an aspect of selectivity. Societies reconstruct their past in order to suit their contemporary needs. From an axiological perspective, memory of the culture serves to construct the main values, ethics and commemorative duties of the nation strengthening ideals that help maintain the citizens’ identity. Nevertheless, memories that are culturally contested or ideological struggles often lead to competing narratives that portrays the essence of cultural memory that can bring people together or tear them apart. In contexts where society has experienced colonialism and inter-ethnic conflicts, using inclusive memories renders itself useful towards reconciliation while exclusionary memories tend to widen gaps. Moreover, the preservation and sharing of cultural memories is highly influenced by globalization as well as digital technologies raise issues concerning authenticity, misinformation, and revisionist history. The concluding thoughts will assert that cultural memory influences the matters of identity on the level of the nation in a greatly varying, composite, and deeply moving approach. An effective strategy for building national consciousness requires constructing memory in a managed and inclusive way.