Thoughts on Cultural Self-Identification

[PoweredByMagnets]

Aside from southerners, I think American culture doesn't have an identity because it prides itself on diversity. We're constantly taught to embrace minorities and reject our own identity. I disagree that cultures with a strong sense of identity will disappear. I think it's the diverse cultures that will disappear and be overtaken by those with strong identities, such as the Islamic movement that's growing across Europe. The diverse British culture, in particular, is on the verge of extinction.

[Pentazoid111]

Since you identify with western culture, do you generally identify more with people who were brought up in the west versus people who were brought up in a non-western culturebut who entirely embraced what you embraced?If neither of the people whowere brought up in the west versus the people whowere brought up in a nonwestern culture shared any of your ideas and values,given a choice, would you still identify with the westerners more than the non-westerners even if they did not share your values?

[XOmniverse]

@Pentazoid111 Actually I think I'd be more likely to identify with the non-westerners, and here is why.

Someone born in the West is exposed to Western Culture from birth. They've never made a conscious commitment to it, and it wasn't really a choice. They are less likely to have integrity towards western values.

Someone born outside the West who deliberately CHOSE the West is more likely to be someone explicitly committed to the values of the West.

[TotalAnomy]

Well...fwiw I live in Brazil, and there are some putatively typical american cultural characteristics that I am often saddened to see lacking among my compatriots, namely that whole don't tread on me/ don't take our guns spirit. Of course this sometimes is associated with other characteristics which I don't like such as traditionalism and constitution-worship, but I'd make that trade any day.

[beanlud]

I get the main point of your video. I identify with Western culture as well and view American culture as part of western culture. But i dont think that it is superficial to call yourself an American rather than a westerner. I think that America is very important historically and it is the embodiment of the Western thinkers' philosophy.

[wadams19]

I know it's cliche, but here's what I think about what you said:

Americans are doers not thinkers. If we want to do something, we do it. "The American" doesn't first try to convince others, and thus himself, that he has a good idea.

He doesn't need to write a treatise. He puts his ideas into the world and let's reality be the judge.

[danielsondanielson]

@wadams19

I'd quite agree with you. A big and rich country, full of resources to grab. In some countries you can be educated, astute, competent, aggressive, but because of a high competition for small wealth, at the end of the day very little is left to you anyway. Then you can find solace in thinking...

[legendre007]

Where would the doing be without the thinking, and where would the thinking be without the doing?

Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, etc., were doers who created electric motors. But that doing was contingent on their thinking. Moreover, the pioneers in electricity generation credited Michael Faraday's discoveries with giving them the knowledge they needed to engineer such inventions.

John Locke wrote 2 treatises. Would the USA be great at all, were it not for Locke's treatises? :-)

[legendre007]

Wait; Locke wrote more than 2 treatises. But you get the idea. ;-)

[wadams19]

@ legendre007

Let me refocus. When I said "thinking", I probably should have said "discourse with others because you need them to underwrite your ideas".

I definitely didn't mean thinking things through in order to come to more a objective conclusion.

[redbaron998]

Thomas Paine has been a long time favorite of mine.

[boxant]

I think the lack of a distinct old racial/cultural heritage (like many cultures in Europe) does lend itself to a somewhat unique "American" perspective. However, this distinction is most likely not nearly as important as the laws of the state in creating cultural differences.

I would have a hard time living in most European countries for the simple fact that I like guns :|

[modelmark]

@boxant in some europeans countries they are allowed (norway and switzerland come to mind)

[GodHatesFacts]

@modelmark I don't know about Switzerland, but here in Norway gun laws are quite strict except for when it comes to hunting. Still we're not far behind the US in weapon density, and there are of course a lot of unregistered guns which is why I would prefer much less strict laws concerning this issue.

[modelmark]

I extrapolated from the shotguns and I knew a norwegian once that regularly crossed the street with a backpack of gunpowder for his shooting hobby, so I concluded from that it was legal. Thanks for the correction.

[tiecuando]

Traitor.

[SuperFinGuy]

If you're into human psychology I can't stress you enough to read Julian Jaynes book "The origin of consciousness in the breakdown of the bicameral mind". Very well written and scientifically founded book.

[AnarchistOpposition]

What about Chomsky? He is american.

[Stargazer5781]

AMERICA! F%*# YEAH!

America's always had a bit of a culture crisis. It's been the topic of conversation in my American music history class this semester. America has a lot of subcultures, largely linked to the many immigrants to America. But a unified American culture? I don't think it exists.

[MaikUniversum]

I always found cultural self-identification and nationalism stupid, religion-like idea (even when I wasn't anarchist). It's another form of brainless-colectivism. I don't feel "lithuanian", I don't think we are somehow different from other nations. Though, there was a point in my life (yearly teen years), when I thought all americans were stupid and all russians were just violent scums, or something like that. But that's mostly has to do with state and tv propaganda, not actual experience.

[XOmniverse]

Well hopefully I've played a role in improving your view of Americans (or at least in the potential of Americans).

[MaikUniversum]

@XOmniverse definitely :) you are actually my favourite youtube philospher.

[Pentazoid111]

yeah, but are philosophers and political thinkers the only people who shaped the person that you are ? I cannot say that intellectual development for me anyway as a whole make s up the person that you are. You don't think the moviews and books that you read for entertainment that might have come from americans have shaped your personality as well?

[XOmniverse]

I'm sure they have, as did the British ones :)

You see what I am saying?

[Pentazoid111]

yeah, I think what you are saying is that a nationalistic culture doesn't necessarily influeced one individual mindset as a whole ; but you know, one can say the same thing about the philosophers who influenced your line of thinking. Ayn rand writings certainly was not inspired by the Boshelviks who overtook Russia ; You could say that the Boshelviks actions lead her to wanting societies to be more freerer than they currently are

[TheObnubilators]

Wow, a former objectivist awaiting the arrival of a Susan Blackmore book. That's a beautiful thing... She's interesting in that she has very close ties to both the world of Dawkin's and Zen buddhism.

Unless you're vehemently against all notions of genes determining our behavior, you'll most likely enjoy Pinker's book. I wrote my final on "The Blank Slate".

Right now I'm obsessed with this guy Robert Sapolsky (physiology of stress). Brilliant speaker, and writer. Some good vids on youtube.

[XOmniverse]

I think genetics and evolution are vital to understanding human psychology, which is why I am really interested in the book.

[TheObnubilators]

Yeah, me too. Evolutionary psychology is a fairly new but very rich emerging field, with a lot of heated debate and controversy. John Tooby and Lena Cosmides are essential figures (authors of 'The Adapted Mind')

Also, if you're interested in the other side of the debate, there's Stephen Jay Gould, Richard Lewontin, and Steven Rose. Their arguments center around the perils of EP's reductionism and determinism. Pinker spends a lot of time in 'Slate' trying to refute their claims.