Final answer:
A worldview is a comprehensive lens through which individuals and societies view and interact with the world, reflecting a complex mix of values, beliefs, and ideologies. It plays a significant role in shaping social, political, and economic structures within cultures and is vital for understanding human behavior across different societies.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Vidal says "we define" a worldview, it indicates a look into the comprehensive framework through which individuals and societies perceive and interact with the world. A worldview encompasses one's values, beliefs, and ideologies, shaping how they understand themselves, the natural world, and their social realities. It is a synthesis of spiritual, secular, and philosophical understandings that provide the lens through which individuals and collective groups interpret their experiences and actions.
For example, the worldview of West African cultures focuses on the importance of material goods' accumulation and distribution within extended families and communities, influencing both social and political structures. Similarly, ideologies like liberalism can form the basis for a state's worldviews on political matters, differing from personal political ideologies, which are narrower in scope. Philosophers and thinkers critically examine such worldviews, identifying and questioning underlying assumptions and shared beliefs.
Understanding worldviews is pivotal in disciplines such as anthropology, sociology, and political science because these belief systems often inform the actions and decisions within different societies. The concept transcends the simple notion of religion, as it includes various dimensions of human thought and society's functional narratives that may lead to harmony or hegemony.