Understanding

Western Culture

Wrap Up

Final Exams

• Date and Time:  Jan. 19 (Monday, 22nd week), 10:10am-12:10am;

 

• 1. Classes 1&2: Venue, J3-104, 62 students;

 

• 2. Classes 3&4: Venue, J3-204,  66 students;

 

• 3. Class 5: Venue, J3-206, 30 students;

Next Class is a Review

• At next week’s class, I will take questions from students about the exam and help you in any way I can

• I will also assist anyone with understanding the study guides I plan to provide

• It’s optional, and you do not have to come if you would rather study

Study Guides

• I will prepare these.

• These should be available for download over the weekend.

• Hopefully, this time I actually can post them to the website! (Unlike your essay grades.)

What is Culture?

Education

Age

Social Class

Organization

Western culture ≠ Western Film / TV

(not completely accurate, but does influence it)

Originates from Ancient Greece (Europe)

Socrates, Plato, Aristotle establish the foundations of Western PhilosophyWho made Me? Why am I here? What is my purpose in Life?

Spread by Roman Empire (1st Century BC)

Establish law, engineering, and gov’t beyond their immediate borders = acquire cultural aspects from surrounding areas

Influenced by Christianity (4/5th Century)

Made the official state religion of the Roman Empire, and the Roman Catholic church played a vital role in the development of the new European civilization

Stagnated during Dark Ages (5/6th Century)

Because religion distrusted science, cultural development essentially stopped

Rebirth: Renaissance (14 – 17th Century)

Renaissance - it encompassed a resurgence of learning, art, and widespread educational reform..Its influence affected literature, philosophy, art, politics, science, religion, and other aspects

New ideas: Scientific Revolution (17th Century)

It was a period when new ideas in physics, astronomy, biology, human anatomy, chemistry, and other sciences led to a rejection of ideas from Ancient Greece and laid the foundation of modern science.

Logic & Reason: Age of Enlightenment (18th Century)

A period of time characterized by the importance of logic and reason“freedom to use one's own intelligence”Separation from King + ReligionCommon people got a voice

Basic challenges to the authority of the king, freedom of speech, press, and religion,and the role of commoners in the government were revolutionary.

Independence: American Revolution (Late 18th Century)

Setting the principles of our culture based on individual rights, freedom, entrepreneurial invention, etc

Industrial Revolution (19th Century)

Leads to norms on workers rights, working conditions, hours per week, wages, age of workers, social security, health care, etc

Modern Civilization (Today)

Photo by Steve Rhodes

1st minority president = opportunity

Reality- or fact-based thought and perception (Aristotle 384-322 BC)

Emphasis on the individual person who

is independent and self-reliant

Worldly happiness should be the focus of

each person's life

Individuals should be able to act on their own reason without interference from others – i.e. freedom

Recognizes the right of private ownership, capital accumulation, exchange and profit

Core Ideas & Values

Transcend geography and race (no connection)

Exist worldwide in some form (usually mixed)

We live in a multicultural world where cultures:

Western Culture

• Individuality

• Liberty

• Democracy

• Freedom of Expression

• Pursuit of Material Wealth

• Pursuit of Happiness

• Rationality

Individuality and the Pursuit of Happiness

Pros• Choices, choices, choices

• There are fewer pressures to do something you do not want to do

• What do you want to do?

• How do you want to live?

Cons• Group orientation provides

greater happiness

• Making choices is more complex because more choices

• A less harmonious society

• Everyone is out for themselves

Democracy

Pros• The will of the people

• Government is less able to be tyrannical

• If people want things to change, things will change

• Anyone can be a politician

Cons• Decision making is

DIFFICULT

• And takes a LONG TIME

• And oftentimes democracies are ineffective

• And sometimes, the general population is really, really dumb

Freedom of Expression

Pros• Being able to say whatever

you please

• No fear in repercussions

• This leads to more intelligent conversations because more ideas are being considered

Cons• This gives platforms to the

people who ordinarily wouldn’t have them, yes…

• But sometimes those people do not deserve platforms

• Militias, bigots, jackasses, evil people

Pursuit of Material Wealth

Pros• No one looks down on you if

your biggest goal in life is to get wealthy

• Giant TVs are awesome

• Being able to go on vacation is awesome

• Why should we feel ashamed of chasing the nice things in life?

• Doesn’t that help the economy and the country?

Cons• Dependency on material needs

creates hollow life

• Happiness is much more difficult to achieve because we constantly need more stuff to make us happy

• More greed means less charity

• More greed means more jackasses

Rationality

Pros• People are not bound by

“illogical” thinking such as traditions or religions

• Greater scientific advancements

• Greater intellectual discussions

• Greater progress towards creating a better society

Cons• Traditions and religions

provide comfort

• Tradition/Religion is often tied in with families

• Most of this has to do with individuality

Religious Freedom

Pros• Anyone can and should be

able to believe in whatever they want

• Whether it’s Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, Atheism…

• Creates more intellectual discussions worldwide and promotes worldwide harmony

Cons• But they can also believe in

Militant Islam, or Militant Christianity, or Militant Whatever Else

• Many argue that the world would be better off completely without religion

• That it serves no purpose in the modern world

• And only creates conflicts and closedmindedness

Human Rights

Pros• Believing that every human

being is endowed with rights and privileges means that everyone should respect one another one some level

• Human Rights are their own Pro

Cons• Incredibly politically

inconvenient

• Should America torture terrorists for information?

• If we believe in Human Rights, then No

• Meaning that terrorists may not divulge critical information

Equality

Pros• Equality means “equal

opportunity” – no matter who you are, you deserve a chance to become great

Cons• Society’s need

underclasses

• Inequality is a natural result of this

• Which is to say, that inequality is inevitable, making some people question this goal

Capitalism

Pros• Help society somehow, and

you’ll be rewarded for it

• People who have ideas, leadership, and have a vision can get ahead in life

Cons• Too many people game the

system

• Economic turbulence

• Corporations are strong as hell

• WalMart has the GDP of many, many nations!

Is Western Culture A Good Thing?

• This is largely dependent on your values and as such, is impossible to objectively answer

• Western Culture is based fundamentally on logic and societal progression

• As such, it aims to create an idealistic society where anyone can do anything they want (so long as it does not infringe on someone else doing whatever they want)

Western Civilization

Best Outcomes• A futuristic society where

people fundamentally respect each other for their merits

• Everyone is trying to get ahead, and thus, everyone does well by themselves, and everyone else appreciates that

• Exponential technology (capitalism and lack of moral compunctions)

• Technology has made life much easier and fulfilling

Worst Outcomes• An unhappy society where

people are completely disconnected with each other

• Family is meaningless

• There are no cultures anymore because racial/sexual/religious boundaries are completely dissolved

• Black Mirror

Inevitability• However, Western culture currently is culturally

powerful and influential

• After all, many of you have favorite American TV shows or movies or music or products

• It seems that Western Culture – in particular, Capitalism - causes societal/technological progress

• We should therefore prepare to enjoy the benefits and attempt to deal with the harms as best we can

• China’s rise may actually be caused by Western Culture and depend on Western Culture

East vs. West

What’s the difference?

Illustrations by Yang Liu from “East meets West”

book – www.yangliudesign.com

Way to think 思维方式

Way of life 生活方式

Punctuality 准时

Connections 人际关系

Anger 对待愤怒

Queuing 排队

In the restaurant 在餐厅

Standard of beauty 美丽的标准

Way to solveproblems

处理问题

Senior’s daily life 老人的日常生活

Shower time 洗浴时间

Boss 领导

The child 孩子

Image of each other 想像中的对方

West (US / Europe) East (China / East Asia)

Logic Linear (direct associations)

Spiral (roundabout)

Communication Direct, verbal Indirect, implied

Identity Individual, independent

Group orientated

Agreement / Disagreement

Argumentative, verbal

Hard to say no, non-verbal

Punctuality Start and end on time Appointments flexible

Respect Success, achievement Seniority, wisdom

Business Relationship

Economics come first Relationship comes first

Decision Making Distributed, proactive Manager has final say

Time Horizon Short term (per quarter)

Long term (years ahead)

Risk / Spending Risk-takers, spend Risk-avoiders, save

Cultural Differences*

* but of course there are obvious exceptions

Intercultural Competence

Communicate Effectively

• Speak slowly, maintain eye contact

• Use objective, accurate language

• Rephrase sentences where necessary

• Listen carefully and patiently

• Adapt your conversation style

• Don’t talk down to others

• Clarify what will happen next