Another piece of mischievous nonsense about 'bad' Western culture and 'good' Third World dirt and poverty.

What sort of culture would have it's population terrified about the effects of climate change and at the same time decide to have the largest population growth in the OECD via immigration? With barely a murmerfrom it's media.

watersnake,

Good point, but off topic.

Good essay, but somewhat limited.
Perhaps Richard's last word, namely universality provides the key to understanding our common situation.
That having been said these references describe the all-inclusive universal (non-tribal) basis of Prior Unity for the urgent transformation that is now urgently required.
http://www.priorunity.org
http://www.dabase.org/p2anthro.htm
http://www.beezone.com/adida/quandramamashikhara/thelawofpleasuredomeEDIT.html

I could imagine Christians were accused of Wokeism by the Jews two thousand years ago.

That thought doesn’t help though. Jews have some important lessons for the preservation of Christian cultural traditions, namely, sticking together through thick and thin and not losing sight of its fundamental necessity for cultural preservation, and highlighting the good reason for staying alive: Simply, it’s our obligation as the Human species until death us do part!

Shame the Western culture is subordinated and called inferior by such subtleties less than well hidden in this article. Shame on you as the new recruit!

Dan.

The author overlooks the fundamental influence over culture.

That is an evolving written knowledge.

A look back at ancient history.

The greatest and most successful civilisation ever was the Ancient Egyptian empire. It was based on a number of key things. First it had no 'one god'. Second it had all the knowledge contained in 'The book of Thoth. The knowledge was central and controlled by 'keepers of the truth, 'Priests'. Thirdly, its higher authority was three values, Truth, Order and Fairness. Fourthly, they had effective contraception which allowed control of fertilization by women. Fifthly their economy was dominated and centered on a fantastically creative building industry. Sixthly citizenship was optional but to partake of the empires trade and industry acceptance of the higher authority was demanded. People who did not adhere to that had two choices, exile or slavery. Seventh over time it evolved and grew but its fundamental values rarely changed.Finally they practised common sense and decency.

The Ancient empire persisted for six thousand years. It was the least mysogynist society ever.
(Many pharos were women eg There were seven Pharos named Cleopatra)

It's demise came with Arkhenartum and Neffrietti and the exile of the 100,000 Sun god (Ra) believers to Canaan.

Western civilisation has a tradition of knowledge from books, creative industy, belief in Truth order and justice, most importantly an effective contraception in control of woman, since 1968. A. major devolution from a belief in a god and a movement away from academic control and stupidity as well as a rise in acceptance of common sense as epitomised by Trump.

I predict western civilisations are on a road to evolve into the new 'Ancient' empire. It can adapt and eliminate the stupidities now infecting the world. Lesser cultures will wither as many did during the 6000 years of the ancient Egyptian empire Egyptians.

And of course the author here is a part informed pontificating academic. He needs to read with more depth... like I have.

(Oh, and marriages were often short term, contractual and purpose specific.)

I'm reminded of a quote attributed to Carl Sagan who said something along the lines of the arrogance of the West, believing they have nothing at all to learn from anyone else. So evident in some of the replies to this thread.

Aries54

If your following the path of the high priest of Scientific mambo jumbo Carl Sagan, and towards the ultimate end of creation, integration into the Cosmos, the path is already mapped.
I think he’s around four thousand years behind the times, depending on your cultural view.

Dan.

This reads to me like the musings of someone who has spent too much time meditating on their navel, after indulging in some of the more interesting products of the third world.

"These challenges are 'existential' in that they both materially and physically threaten human existence, and also undermine people's sense of confidence and certainty about life."

Excuse me, Richard: What is the difference between 'materially' and 'physically'?

Human existence cannot be threatened because there are no doubts over its future - extinction!

Once you think clearly about it, confidence and certainty about life will be firmly established.

Anyway, not only will humanity's future be determined by invisible cultures - humanity's PRESENT is already largely determined by a particular invisible culture: SARS-COV-2. Surely other bacterial and viral cultures will follow in determining humanity's future!

Sagan's obviously a half educated nil well read, half dumb-a... academic. He epitomises modern 'academics'.

To me, he's spent too much time in the sun and not enough in the real hall of academia, the library.

Yuyutsu, he's spent too much time in doomed cultures and hasn't spent anytime discovering what makes cultures survive. A Written history ... of ideas that can grow and develop, through revision and reassessment, over time. That is what the common people and well read intelligensia have in common, accept and LIVE. ie their culture, the culture of the WEST.

To you all, the author does not understand why Western Culture leads and will survive. His ilk are intent on undermining and destroying that because of ignorance and ideological stupidity.