Matt Kramer
12-18-12
Western Civilization I
Final Essay
At
the heart of western freedom and democracy is the belief that the individual
man... is the touchstone of value, and all society, groups, the state, exist
for his benefit. Therefore the enlargement of liberty for individual human
beings must be the supreme goal and abiding practice of any western
society.” - (Robert Kennedy) It is
the common thought that the purpose of any government is to serve the people
and all that come with it. When the government loses touch with this necessary
reality the country as a whole begins to crumble at its foundation. The idea of
Democracy is based on everyone’s opinion being heard and respected thus every
citizen having a say in the countries affairs. In the literature to follow the
successes of Democracy will be laid out and upon further reading one will
realize the greatness and ideals of western civilizations. The core of western
democracy and freedom is the practice of honoring the individual man as most
important and all society, groups, and the state exist for his/her benefit.
In
the article “ Greatness of Western Civilization” by Edwin A. Locke, three
fundamental aspects of western culture are objectively analyzed. Locke asserts
that it is not an ethnocentric view of how the western civilization is better,
rather an objective analysis. He points out how many intellectuals claim no
culture is superior then another and that every culture has their brilliance
and intellectuals, Locke disagrees. He outlines the three fundamental respects
of western culture: reason, individual rights, and Science and technology.
These points give sight into how Western culture is superior. Philosophically knowledge is gained
through reason and logic rather than mysticism. This belief came to its full
practice during the age of enlightenment in the 18th century. The
respect for reason became the mark of an entire culture. Individual rights were
another one of western cultures great achievements, which happened to give
birth to America. The individual does not exist to serve their government;
government exists to serve the individual. The development of reason and peoples rights made possible
the full potential of science and technology. The industrial revolution was the
first technological advance of western culture. Freedom eased the minds of men
to embark on alternate endeavors bringing with it the growth of industry. The
ball kept rolling- with the change from horse and buggies to cars, wagon tracks
to train tracks, and candles to electricity. Exponentially advances in science
and technology seem to grow due to the culture of western culture. We
experience a grand lifestyle with wealth, comfort, and health. Life expectancy
in turn is higher than it ever was and is in other cultures giving the
individual a longer opportunity to fulfill his/her pursuit of happiness. Locke
describes an inevitable end to these freedoms due to attacks from all angles,
which will lead to the dead end of nihilism.
I
agree with Locke that western culture is superior to others in these respects.
Not in a complete ethnocentric view, even though I can’t help being somewhat
biased, but rather in terms of progress. With the laws and morals that are the
framework of our culture we are able to focus less on our next meal and more on
intellectual properties. Without these ideals of John Locke and other
philosophers of the age of enlightenment America and it’s greatness would not
exist. Although I do not agree that western culture is absolutely superior.
Many cultures have their superior qualities that are redeeming and superior to
western culture.
In the article “
Why Western Civilization” by William Bennett, Bennett stresses the importance
of learning about western civilization. He outlines the reason in three main
points. It is our society that we live in or “ It is the water and we are the
fish,” It is good, and because it is under attack. In his first point he
conveys the importance of learning about western civilization because it is the
culture in which we live. It is from the western civilizations that we can
attribute to our institutions, communities, governments, churches, schools and
universities. Most of the achievements we have seen in our culture are due to
western civilizations triumphant ideas. But not all can be. The east had its
fair share of achievements that influenced the west in one way or another. The
west is ours – culturally, socially, morally, and legally.
The second reason
Bennett presses is “ It is good.”
With humbleness he follows, “ It is not all good”. What can this mean? Nothing
is untarnished with a spotless record from imperfections. He compares this
history of America and it’s injustices with other civilizations and theirs.
When looking at America’s dealings with inhumanity and misery it seems as if
western civilization is far from flawed. Bennett uses these examples as a tool
to express how far we have come in those respects. The misery and inhumanity in
western civilization is considerably low compared to other civilizations
throughout history. This is due to the representative democracy that is a
product of western Civilization. The best insight into this way of life is the
U.S Constitution, the most imitated political document in the world. Besides
this document other western literature offer guidance with life’s important
questions: What can I know? What should I do? What is good? What is man? How
should I live?
The third reason
Bennett expresses is that we are under attack from abroad and from within.
Under attack from those hostile towards western progress and western
principles. “Theirs is not an America that, despite its imperfections, its
weaknesses, its sins, has served as a beacon to the world; instead, theirs is
an America corrupt with a host of unholy "isms," such as racism,
elitism, and imperialism.”(Bennett) Sexism is one of the grand injustices of
our day but the scale of the treatment of women throughout history compared to
America’s treatment of women, we don’t stack up. More so than in any culture
women are treated far better off in America. These freedoms exist in few other
societies and we are blessed to be a product of western civilization.
I adamantly agree
with Bennett on all his points; we are under attack, democracy is good, and it
is important to defend western culture because it is our own. Many peoples
throughout the world are against any western progress and who have an
unrequited and unsolicited hatred for our way of life. They find it absolutely
necessary for the destruction of our principles and way of life. Western
culture stands for justice, and under the constitution, growth- with modern
times is only inevitable. Our history is not pure. It is marked with bloodshed
and injustice. But on the grand scale that is time our negative moments are but
a grain of sand in comparison.
To really take
from history is to realize that its’ existence is not just that of the past but
in the present and future. With this realization one will be able to make more
just and accurate judgments, as well as choices. The realization of history’s
presence is not the mark of intelligence yet the mark of wisdom. An example is
when you know the outcome of certain military or political strategies from the
past, you can use these as ‘‘context clues’’ for what choices and moves to
make. Realizing that history surrounds that and us when something terrible or
great happens that the pages of history are being written.
The discovery of
Penicillin was one of the greatest of the 20th century. The lives
that were saved and the well being that was preserved is insurmountable.
Alexander Fleming’s discovery of this fungi changed medical history and it’s
practices. The discovery was truly a revolution in the medical field.
Penicillin antibiotics were the first drugs that were affective against serious
diseases. The penicillin antibiotic is now prescribed for 26 conditions
including syphilis, lyme disease, and gangrene to name a few.
The Wright
brothers did more than invent a device that flies- they instilled hope for
mankind. In 1903 their invention expanded the realm of human exploration. The
Wright brother’s airplane gave hope to man. Seeing the once thought impossible
done, surely must have been awe-striking. Space exploration was the next step
in exploratory growth.
The same hopefully
inspiring feeling from the Wright brothers that were induced was once again
administered by the 1969 lunar expedition. Apollo 11 manned by Neil Armstrong,
Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins was the first manned lunar landing ever. This
was a huge feat for mankind and a pivotal period in the history of human
beings. When Neil Armstrong took those first steps on the moon man had found
their place throughout the billions of years prior that the earth existed.
The
world would be a much different place not to mention our country if there had
not been the advances in the science, medical, and exploration. Without the
landing on the moon the it’s presence in history would be vacant and we would have
no accurate information to draw upon for the moon and for other explorations.
Our technological advances would be linear and hope would run dry. This can be
said about the Wright brothers as well.
If the Penicillin antibiotic was not discovered many people would have
lived much shorter lives and died of diseases that we find trivial today.
Realizing the presence of such things is inspiring and gives me pride in the
democracy that I live in.
At
the heart of western freedom and democracy is the belief that the individual
man... is the touchstone of value, and all society, groups, the state, exist
for his benefit. Therefore the enlargement of liberty for individual human
beings must be the supreme goal and abiding practice of any western society.” - (Robert Kennedy) This theme is ever
more important today than ever. With American’s faltering trust in the
government and politicians it is important to remember that we are the country
and the government exists to serve us. This is a great theme to guide this
generation into the future. From looking at the counter culture of the 60’s we
see a failure of protests and opposition towards authority. The best way to go
about change is not on the opposition rather within the institution. It is
important to remember the fundamental ideas of Robert Kennedy’s quote. We are
the country and anything else is unacceptable. The core of western democracy
and freedom is the practice of honoring the individual man as most important
and all society, groups, and the state exist for his/her benefit.
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