pre-figurative society

is a traditional society in which the skills, values, and knowledge of older members continue to have importance and the persons themselves to be useful in the community.

Once formed, tastes and attitudes are difficult to change, although social pressure, rewards, experience, and philosophical convictions sometimes cause this. Another factor is what Margaret Mead referred to as the pre-figurative vs. post-figurative society. In a pre-figurative (traditional) society, the skills, values, and knowledge of older members continue to have importance and the persons themselves to be useful in the community. In a post-figurative (modern) society, older people's experience and abilities are rendered irrelevant by rapid technological and social change. They themselves are disrespected unless they are wealthy. Levi-Strauss calls this contrast 'cold' versus 'hot' systems of thought. The ideal would be something like a co-figurative society, in which everybody was learning together with no sacrifice of persons whose capabilities fell out of date. (net)

pre figurative society, n.Definitions

pre figurative society