From: svg9211@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Sridhar Venkateswaran )
Subject: Re: World Culture and Western Culture
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1992 03:35:23 GMT

jmc@SAIL.Stanford.EDU (John McCarthy) writes:

>The following is a response to the idea that Western Culture courses
>should be replaced by multiculturalism.

>I'll bet that some of the responses will be to accuse me of saying
>things I don't say.

>\title{WESTERN TECHNOLOGY---WORLD TECHNOLOOGY, WESTERN CIVILIZATION---WORLD CIVILIZATION}

<deleted>
>	Here are some of the items which the West has contributed
>to world culture and civilization.  With each of the following, the
>reader should consider (a) whether it developed primarily in the
>West and (b) whether today it is a part of world culture and civilization
>and not just a phenomenon in Western countries.

<deleted>

>	2. Harmony and counterpoint in music.  This has
>penetrated all countries, and Seiji Ozawa is just as much an heir
>of Beethoven as any Austrian.  Whether the Western musical
>advances have any necessary relation to other cultural advances,
>I have no idea.

As far as i know, The `Classical' form of music - where u have proper notes,
styles, variations etc started in India. MUCH before the western civilization
was even BORN !!!! and the 2 broad forms of Classical music in india -
Hindustani (followed by mainly the northern states) and Carnatic (followed by
the southern states) are still probably the most popular forms of music in 
India. (there is ofcourse the film music `form' which is heard by more numbers
but here i am referring to `formal' music. So - 
	Western music (classical or otherwise) is NOT older
	It is Not the first to formalise music either. !!
<deleted>

>	3. The novel as a form of literature.

Again, the Indian mythologies are probably the best example of `novels in the
form of literature' that u can find. They are DEFINITELY considered as 
literature AND they consist of many stories which are true even in today's 
context ( scenes from the Mahabharata , for e.g. in terms of human relationships
) and these are MUCH OLDER than the western literature. ( i have no idea about
the dates, so i dont want to quote incorrect dates - maybe one of the people
reading this can clarify )

>	4. Analytic philosophy.  All other important philosophies
>reached dead ends in which they are still stuck.

I can quote the epic `Mahabharatha' again, for the Philosophies that it contains
which are still relevent inthe present day world. You can still read the 
Bhagwad Gita and learn proper morals and philosophy from it. 

<deleted>
>	7. Of course, the West has contributed its share of bad ideas
>and regrettable cultural phenomena.  These include Marxism, various
>forms of racism, Fascism, the balance of nature, Heavy Metal and
>multiculturalism.

I am not sure i understand you here. Is the West reponsible for the bad idea
and regrettable cultural phenomena called `multiculturalism' ??!!

>	The multiculturalism idea, that all cultural traditions are
>equally valuable is today being overcome at great cost in the former
>colonial countries.  Arbitrarily trying to invent alternatives to
>democracy and capitalism are just as unlikely to succeed as trying to
>invent alternatives to the airplane.

Now, i am totally lost. The multicutures EXIST today. Nobody is trying to 
invent alternatives. Democracy and capitalism, in fact, as they exist, today, 
ARE alternatives to the age-old Cultures and tradtions of the Indian or 
Chinese civilizations. !!!! 


>	As you see, I find great virtues in Western culture
>and civilization.  Since Western culture and civilization form the
>basis of present world culture and civilization, it make senses

No i dont see. The points that u have raised, at least as far as India is 
concerned, i could show that a few of those dont hold. 
	What i agree with is - capitalism has suceeded to a large extent and
all other countries are adopting this philosophy. and since it the west - US,
specifically- is strong economically, they have a lot of CLOUT in the 
international organisations and hence the `basis of present world culture and
civilisation'. 

>to emphasize their study.  Of course, it doesn't follow that requiring
>the study of these subjects will instill corresponding virtues in
>college students.  It doesn't even seem to instill them in the people
>who teach the courses.  If these ideas are correct, we
>should add to the study of Western Culture the history of
>its world-wide application.  This could include the study of
>writers like Sun Yat-sen and Kemal Attaturk and the politics
>of Westernizers like Peter the Great.  Opponents of Westerization
>also need consideration.

Here u are right. regarding the inclusion of the works of Great writers/
philosophers of Asia. and Africa too should be included. 
I am not aware of the present system of education in the west. The few people
in US have said that they hardly study anything about the rest of the world. 
and that is something lacking in the system. The Indian education system, for
e.g. includes a lot of world history, we study the entire formation of the 
European nations, the American history, african history etc. enough to tell 
the high school students of the existence of the world outside and stimulate 
their interest so that they can continue to keep track of the world. Not like
the US for e.g. where, i was surprised to note that the educated people in
various universities have NO IDEA about indians. and that considering the fact
that most of the top US universities have a sizable indian population. They 
dont even comprehend the fact that indians can speak english !! The first 
questions that i came across here in the universities was - "where did u learn 
to speak English ? " !!!! So much for their knowledge of other cultures. and 
mind you , i am not talking of people off the streets. I am talking of people
working in the universities. most of the time our employers !!!


- Sridhar V
-- 

Sridhar Venkateswaran        Email: sridhar-v@uiuc.edu
1006, West Stoughton, #11    Univ of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 
Urbana, IL - 61801.     
Xref: sparky soc.history:8582 soc.culture.indian:32274 soc.culture.china:26513 soc.culture.pakistan:15252 soc.culture.sri-lanka:1085 soc.culture.iranian:8358