CDZ Are Some Cultures Better Than Others?

[numan]

Do our western traditions of open discussion and acceptance of new and different ideas ....

Our 'what'....? Have you ever taken a gander at Western history?

Yes, for most of "Western" history, the culture has been violent and intolerant in the extreme. In the Middle Ages, Islamic culture was, by and large, much more tolerant than the violent, feudal, theocratic culture of Europe. Today, a reasonable case can be made that the opposite is, in certain respects, true, but for how long? Even recently, Hitler, Stalin, George W. Bush and many of his ilk have been tireless in their attempts to destroy "the better angels of our culture."

Furthermore, how "democratic" is a culture which has led to half the world's wealth being concentrated in the hands of 62 billionaire oligarchs?

If we look at things broadly, every culture has its strong points and weak points, and these are not constant, but change over time.

In the past few centuries, science and invention have exploded out of Europe; but further back, starting from the times of the Greeks and the Romans, The West was remarkably lacking in original science and invention. Most technological invention came from China until the time of the Renaissance in Italy. This is well established and indisputable. The one bright area of the Greek and Roman culture was geometry and the systematizing of knowledge.

 

[Liminal]

"Better" meaning in comparison with other cultures. Islamic Arab culture, for example, is clearly inferior to Western Civilization. How many books are published in predominantly Islamic nations? Any idea about that?

Why do you think the number of books published defines what is better?

Simply an indicator of which culture is more open to new ideas and differing opinions.

again, if you're discounting those other cultures and ideas then you are not indicative of being open to new ideas and differing opinions... which is where we started this exercise....

and you are still missing the irony

The real irony is that some people evidently believe they have objective opinions.

actually, the point is that your judgment is subjective so your judgment that one culture (your own in your opinion...meaning white christian culture) is superior than others.

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You poor mixed up kid, you just don't have any idea what you believe or why. Maybe this guy can explain your problem in a way that will make sense to you.

 

[Liminal]

Do our western traditions of open discussion and acceptance of new and different ideas ....

Our 'what'....? Have you ever taken a gander at Western history?

Yes, for most of "Western" history, the culture has been violent and intolerant in the extreme. In the Middle Ages, Islamic culture was, by and large, much more tolerant than the violent, feudal, theocratic culture of Europe. Today, a reasonable case can be made that the opposite is, in certain respects, true, but for how long? Even recently, Hitler, Stalin, George W. Bush and many of his ilk have been tireless in their attempts to destroy "the better angels of our culture."

Furthermore, how "democratic" is a culture which has led to half the world's wealth being concentrated in the hands of 62 billionaire oligarchs?

If we look at things broadly, every culture has its strong points and weak points, and these are not constant, but change over time.

In the past few centuries, science and invention have exploded out of Europe; but further back, starting from the times of the Greeks and the Romans, The West was remarkably lacking in original science and invention. Most technological invention came from China until the time of the Renaissance in Italy. This is well established and indisputable. The one bright area of the Greek and Roman culture was geometry and the systematizing of knowledge.

A remarkably trite and superficial assessment of historic events.

 

[Unkotare]

Do our western traditions of open discussion and acceptance of new and different ideas ....

Our 'what'....? Have you ever taken a gander at Western history?

I'm sure your History Channel level of analysis is very compelling.

Guess again.

Discovery Channel? Maybe BRAVO......how about those Real Housewives huh.

Gave up?

 

[Liminal]

Hundreds of years ago....every culture burnt witches, every culture had slavery.......and in every culture women were chatel.....except for the rare few......but Western Civilization developed the philosophies and the attitudes and the means to make men and women free and equal...

There is still slavery in Africa....

We ended all of those practices...do you realize that?

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Too many in the west have lost the ability to believe in themselves, as they are so caught up in politically-correct cultural relativism that they have merely reversed earlier notions of supremacy. The other is now afforded greater respect than their own, even if this other is abysmally backwards in their customs -- thus this ridiculous need to assault their own through these tu quoque fallacies that compare apples to oranges.

THese attitudes will end up being the death of us all if they ever prevail.

I guess If we feel guilty about history then injustice and persecution will end, the lamb shall lay with the lion, dogs will love cats, the world will be a better place.