Western vs Eastern Culture
Discuss issues that have a social and cultural impact, including but not limited to issues such as racism, teenage pregnancies, the social impact of religion, and the state of the education system.
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Western vs Eastern CultureSo what do you think are the main differences?
I think the main one is the West's more individualistic nature while the East is more collectivist.
There are of course many differences some minor and some major.
Do you think one is better than the other? In what ways?
Edit: I'm talking about the modern period but of course that is heavily influenced by the past.Last edited by Jacob :); 18-05-2012 at 15:46. -
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Re: Western vs Eastern CultureI'd argue some eastern cultures have more in common with the west then with each other, so I find the question itself troubling as it presumes a dichotomy that doesn't exist.
I feel uncomfortable with claims of individualism in the west, this is a post ww2 artefact and does not represent the wider history of the west. There was nothing individualist about hundreds of thousands of young men being pushed over the trenches by Field Marshall Haig, or in the life of Nazi Germany nor in the strict class adherance of earlier Britain.
The west has existed before individualism and will exist after and it will still be different from the east - so it is not individualism that defines us.
I would personally say the main differences are the historical experiences and how it has shaped the psyche of the nations, we often hear about china's century of humilation - how much of the American character was shaped by victories in wars abroad? -
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Re: Western vs Eastern CultureI have a feeling the OP is talking about this point in time, i mean if you really wish to use history as a means of defining eastern v western culture i doubt you'd want to talk about imperialism and slavery. just sayin(Original post by RyanT)
I'd argue some eastern cultures have more in common with the west then with each other, so I find the question itself troubling as it presumes a dichotomy that doesn't exist.
I feel uncomfortable with claims of individualism in the west, this is a post ww2 artefact and does not represent the wider history of the west. There was nothing individualist about hundreds of thousands of young men being pushed over the trenches by Field Marshall Haig, or in the life of Nazi Germany nor in the strict class adherance of earlier Britain.
The west has existed before individualism and will exist after and it will still be different from the east - so it is not individualism that defines us.
I would personally say the main differences are the historical experiences and how it has shaped the psyche of the nations, we often hear about china's century of humilation - how much of the American character was shaped by victories in wars abroad? -
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Re: Western vs Eastern CultureYou can't meaningfully divide the world into The West and The East.(Original post by Jacob :))
So what do you think are the main differences?
I think the main one is the West's more individualistic nature while the East is more collectivist.
There are of course many differences some minor and some major.
Do you think one is better than the other? In what ways? -
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Re: Western vs Eastern CultureNot quite sure what you're on about here. What about imperialism and slavery?(Original post by TheEssence)
I have a feeling the OP is talking about this point in time, i mean if you really wish to use history as a means of defining eastern v western culture i doubt you'd want to talk about imperialism and slavery. just sayin -
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Re: Western vs Eastern CultureThis. Scandinavia is more collectavist than modern China.(Original post by AdvanceAndVanquish)
You can't meaningfully divide the world into The West and The East. -
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Re: Western vs Eastern CultureI'm glad that I am not the only one who thinks this.(Original post by Jacob :))
So what do you think are the main differences?
I think the main one is the West's more individualistic nature while the East is more collectivist.
There are of course many differences some minor and some major.
Do you think one is better than the other? In what ways? -
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Re: Western vs Eastern CultureTheHansa,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Index_of_Economic_Freedom
http://www.heritage.org/index/default
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interne...ublic_of_China
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_in_the_World (my favourite one)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politic...ublic_of_China
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_End...d_Corporations (recommended reading) -
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Re: Western vs Eastern CultureWhy?(Original post by TheEssence)
I have a feeling the OP is talking about this point in time, i mean if you really wish to use history as a means of defining eastern v western culture i doubt you'd want to talk about imperialism and slavery. just sayin
In an age of Empires, the British one became the largest in history.
In an age of slavery, Britain abolished it throughout much of the world with the threat of war.
What exactly am I meant to be afraid to talk about?
Take your guilt trip and shove it up America's arse, Brits have nothing to apologise for.
The present situation is entirely derived from history. The future can derive from the present, but to understand the present one must understand the past. -
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Re: Western vs Eastern CultureThis idea that there is a single, unified and cohesive Western culture which is American / Anglophone culture is Cold War propaganda meant to convinced everybody that the US is the descendant and ultimate embodiment of 'the West'. I hope that today people are able to acknowledge that the culture of, say, Southern US is very different from that of Southern France although they're both Western. So there is no such thing as Western or Eastern culture, there are Western cultures, Eastern ones and many which are somewhere in between the two extremes.
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Re: Western vs Eastern CultureI think this pretty much sums it up.(Original post by Mr Dangermouse)
Western culture - you're allowed to enjoy life.
Eastern cultue - family dominated -
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Re: Western vs Eastern Culturejust saying how far in history does he want to go into, i personally thought the op was talking about the present /past few decades in describing the cultures of the east and the west(Original post by AdvanceAndVanquish)
Not quite sure what you're on about here. What about imperialism and slavery?
i actually used that quote yesterday come to think of it.. i'm not on a guilt trip, lower your defence.. i did word it and express it poorly but what i meant to say was how far in history do you want to go in history to describe western culture in comparison to eastern culture.. the 21st century western world is seen as being capitalist, materialistic, individualistic and so on and that is what i believe the op was getting at- more recent history.(Original post by RyanT)
Why?
In an age of Empires, the British one became the largest in history.
In an age of slavery, Britain abolished it throughout much of the world with the threat of war.
What exactly am I meant to be afraid to talk about?
Take your guilt trip and shove it up America's arse, Brits have nothing to apologise for.
The present situation is entirely derived from history. The future can derive from the present, but to understand the present one must understand the past. -
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Re: Western vs Eastern CultureYou know I don't mean geographically? For example I'd say Australia is western culture. Do you not think there are traits shared by most on both sides?(Original post by AdvanceAndVanquish)
You can't meaningfully divide the world into The West and The East. -
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Re: Western vs Eastern CultureYes of course you don't mean geographically, but it doesn't change anything. Just as a thought experiment, who would you include in the East?(Original post by Jacob :))
You know I don't mean geographically? For example I'd say Australia is western culture. Do you not think there are traits shared by most on both sides?
