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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?
Edit: I'm talking about the modern period but of course that is heavily influenced by the past.
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.
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#2
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?
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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#4
(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?
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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#5
(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?
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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#6
(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
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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#7
(Original post by AdvanceAndVanquish)
You can't meaningfully divide the world into The West and The East.
You can't meaningfully divide the world into The West and The East.
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#8
(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?
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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#9
TheHansa,
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)
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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#10
(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
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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#11
This 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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#12
(Original post by Mr Dangermouse)
Western culture - you're allowed to enjoy life.
Eastern cultue - family dominated
Western culture - you're allowed to enjoy life.
Eastern cultue - family dominated
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#13
(Original post by AdvanceAndVanquish)
Not quite sure what you're on about here. What about imperialism and slavery?
Not quite sure what you're on about here. What about imperialism and slavery?
(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.
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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(Original post by AdvanceAndVanquish)
You can't meaningfully divide the world into The West and The East.
You can't meaningfully divide the world into The West and The East.
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#15
(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?
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?
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#16
Western culture certainly seems more liberal, eastern is more family orientated, parents generally put more pressure on their offspring to do well academically & get a good career, less sex orientated etc.
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