Are there peoples more civilized than others? Or is it merely a question of cultural differences?
The latter...
all people who are more considerate of the rights of other people, are indeed more civilised than those of us who ride roughshod over one and all
The concept of being civilised is entirely subjective, as is a person's culture. In my opinion, there are no "civilised" cultures left on earth, not even my own. With each set of values, each culture comes with its own list of "disposables". USA values freedom but is quite prepared to do away with individual privacy and the power of decision over one's body. South Africa is supposedly a bastion of capitalist democracy free of racial or gender prejudice, and yet we base our cricket and rugby team selection on what colour the players are, and the majority of our great unwashed masses, the common denominator, approve of and even love a presidential candidate who has yet to be tried for corruption, and narrowly got off a rape charge, simply because she didn't say no enough times. Oh, and he thought he was safe from HIV because he showered afterwards. The Spanish are supposedly a beautiful and passionate people, who love life and each other, but take immense pleasure in slowly stabbing a dumb animal to death whilst snapping their fingers and waving a cape. Need I go on?   | | |
It is indeed a question of cultural difference, although the concept of civilization is a western european concept an therefore one could say that Europeans are more civilized than others....
Cultural Differences.
I find some practices disgusting, regardless of cultural differences. In some respects, we Americans aren't yet civilized, though most of us can be trusted not to pee on the rug.
The question ask the respondent to judge his or her civil society in comparison to others. Islam offers, in it's truest presentation a refined, genteel scoiety with respect for everyone, rules that offer consideration of many universal values. That said, Christian beliefs purport to offer the same. There are many more similarities in the Old Testament teaching and Qu'ran than differences.
It would help all of us to understand that regardless of secular values, most society and civilizations are based on religious values.
If there were a universal standard for Civilization, then ALL societies could be judged by appropriate standards. Failing a universal standard, we are left to judge others values by our own values and standards. That offers avenues for conflict.
Civility is a matter of perception. A lot of psychopaths believe they are highly civilized, because their moral code makes sense, from their point of view.
The entire idea of things like kink, deviant behavior, aberrant behavior... It all comes down the idea that somehow we can agree on what is "normal." Unfortunately, I've found that the vocal minority that thinks they are the majority tend to try and overwhelm with their perception of "normal."
In this system of government, money talks...and special interests tend to skew the results with their political games.
The words 'primitive' 'advanced' and 'civilized' are more often than not used out of context. We claim the tribal peoples of Africa are primitive. Yet, if computers failed and we needed to exist on hunting, who becomes more advanced or civilized? I think the world is defined by its cultures and for us to determine who is better or worse, primitive or advanced, etc, is very arrogant. How many of us can weave a basket? How many of us can make leather? Gather roots? Hunt our own food? Culture is important and so is objective thought.
The response of course, is cultural differences. Some of the countries that command our attention have civilizations and societies that have exsisted for thousands of years. It is from them that much of our own knowledge of life has come. Is one person any less a person because he or she believes or thinks in a different manner? If so, then the whole idea of diversity is a lie. But then again, diversity is largely a social catch phrase rather than a true ideology in this country. It sounds good, but means little to those in control.
Look man, this is all I will say- I don't think it's the job of any nation to go and 'fix' another people for their supposedly 'barbaric' ways. Everyone will have their own way, and yeah, a lot of peoples, nations and cultures have pretty fucked up ways. It's not a racial thing or even a cultural thing- it is just the way that people are. Nobody has the right to say that their people's way is better than another people's, ESPECIALLY if they are making such a claim at gunpoint.
That being said, I certainly can't condone certain practices of some cultures. I just think that it is up to different cultures to work that out for themselves
It is definitely a question of cultural differences. Cultural relativism is sadly ignored. We need to remember that even little things we take for granted as 'truths' or 'facts' have a cultural bias. For instance, seeing the world in dichotomy (good/evil, black/white, male/female, true/false, etc) is a preconception of western culture, as is the notion of time being a linear phenomenon, as is reason and logic and other tenants of western philosophy. Like everything else in life, it's complicated and messy, which is why I think people find it easier to hide behind ignorance.
Yes. Respect for human life - all human life - defines a civilization.
cultural differences |
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