NationStates Jolt Archive

this is reminiscent of one of my very first threads on here, but bah...

do you think the culture - the society - we live in today (whatever country you're in) is the 'most advanced' or most 'cultured' in history (or that there will be)? of course terms like advanced and cultured are highly subjective, but/so it'll be interesting to see some responces to this... ;)


me, i'd argue no. in some ways, yes, but overall, no.

Technologically we are yes. But culturally no, but then who are we to say? The Aztecs might say that we were culturally savages, but we think that human sacrifices are a disgusting.

When the first Colonials arrived in Japan, the Japanese thought the Colonials were savages, and the Colonials though that the Japanese were savages.

Technologically we are yes. But culturally no, but then who are we to say? The Aztecs might say that we were culturally savages, but we think that human sacrifices are a disgusting.

When the first Colonials arrived in Japan, the Japanese thought the Colonials were savages, and the Colonials though that the Japanese were savages.
indeed. such subjective terms make comparison near impossible, but i just want to see people's opinions.

my thinking is that, as you say, technologically our current society is, without a doubt, the most advanced. however that's not how i would choose to define a society. a society may be judged by how it treats its worst-off, and i think our current society does gain a few points here, with the welfare state and abolition of slavery, but we can go much further. gah i haven't finished thinking about this yet....

Does it matter?

Yes I believe. Though moral values have been going down the drain (but it's normal, we are throwing out things that doesn't work, and adepting to things that do).

We are Still ahead of ancient civilizations. Mass media plays a role in our perception of what we see society. Crime has always been present, and it's increasing because population is increasing.

Everywhere in the world cultures are different so no one country or civilization can be considered the most cultured.

Protoculture, of course.
(Go Zentradei!!)

Technologically we are yes. But culturally no, but then who are we to say? The Aztecs might say that we were culturally savages, but we think that human sacrifices are a disgusting.

Who are we to say? Sorry but that’s a cheap ass cop-out. If the Nazis had believed that killing of the Jews was a big organized human sacrifice in order to the keep the Sun rising would you be talking about it being "well, they might think we're savages because we don't do that." No you'd be blasting their ass. It is very easy to draw a line in "Human Sacrifice = Savage" and not back down from it. Have some spine.

Everywhere in the world cultures are different so no one country or civilization can be considered the most cultured.

Grow a spine. There are differences. Hm, so technically then you could probably use those differences and say "well, these guys are backwards as all hell." Female genital mutilation? Nope. Can't Judge that at all. Its just their culture and who are we to say?

Everywhere in the world cultures are different so no one country or civilization can be considered the most cultured.
obviously. but i also obviously meant a aggregation of the seperate and distinct cultures of the world. like an 'overall culture'. this overall culture is going to be very different now than it was, say, in the Roman times, or even 100 years ago - hence you can make a historical comparison.

As culture is subjective, and we only know that which we know (I know that sounds odd, but I'm sure it makes sense, somehow) and I only know what I know, then I'd have to say that we are tops right now.

There is no such thing as most advanced culture, in my mind. You can be more technologically advanced, or scientifically advanced, but every single society there has ever been has had a culture, and none has been more advanced than any other.

That's my two p anyhoo.

All I know is that I'm lucky to be born in this time period. Anything earlier than the 1960's would suck very much for me.

All I know is that I'm lucky to be born in this time period. Anything earlier than the 1960's would suck very much for me.

Ah but consider the future! Life could get better still... or mankind will die. :D

Culture is really just for the wealthy. In the renaissance, in Victorian times, ancient Japan etc. the high level of 'cultural' was enjoyed by a small minority of wealthy. The peasants just got on with being peasants.

Right now in the west, culture includes everyone. Which may be why it's not a pretty culture.

Hmm... I wouldn't say most cultures today don't have very much "culture". For the most part, the developed cultures are definitely in some pre-phase of monoculture. As far as technology goes, I have adifferent way of looking at technology. Technology is supposetomake life easier. However, the more it grows, which is something a society has control over, the more immoral society becomes. A society cannot last without morality. I'd have to say çatal Huyuk was definitely one of the most advanced cultures.

Culture History and Adavanced with today does not compute!
We are the most advanced in history so far but i wouldnt say we have Culture!

I got your tg Harlesburg. ;)

I will reply when I get to the bottom of my list.

Regional stuff has to come first. :(

Ah but consider the future! Life could get better still... or mankind will die. :D

If the future isn't like Star Trek, I'm going to be PISSED! I'm going to come back from the dead and beat scientists over the head with my coffin lid until they get some Trek-like ideas. I want warp capable starships, replicators, and holodecks damnit! :p

I got your tg Harlesburg. ;)

I will reply when I get to the bottom of my list.

Regional stuff has to come first. :(
TIs more important(regional stuff of course ;) )!

TIs more important(regional stuff of course ;) )!

Unfortunately, if I don't want to be forced to resign from my position.

No need to worry about the *content* of your tg. :)

In my opinion the most civilised culture was the Egyptian society under Ramses II (the Great).

Thank all that is Divine that we have the mass media outlet known as "The Internet" which can allow us to argue the finer points of "civilisation" from the comfort of our own beer and sweat socks.

Now that's culture!

That all depends on how you consider technology and culture. At some point in the past there MAY have been technology to rival our own, but obviously it did not survive. And this one will not survive in the long run.

Our culture will end at some point, either all at once or through a slow mutation. And we will all be dead and unconcerned with it. I really don't see why it matters.

Thank all that is Divine that we have the mass media outlet known as "The Internet" which can allow us to argue the finer points of "civilisation" from the comfort of our own beer and sweat socks.

Now that's culture!
this is talking about culture

Technologically we are, of course, the most advanced. Culturally, well, who knows? Culture is subjective. And no, despite this;


Who are we to say? Sorry but that’s a cheap ass cop-out. If the Nazis had believed that killing of the Jews was a big organized human sacrifice in order to the keep the Sun rising would you be talking about it being "well, they might think we're savages because we don't do that." No you'd be blasting their ass. It is very easy to draw a line in "Human Sacrifice = Savage" and not back down from it. Have some spine.

We can't say that human sacrifice was an evil culture, because that is missing the point of why it was done. Think about it - it was to make the Gods happy. What makes Gods happy? The most valuable thing you can give them - Life. It was taken specifically becasue it was so highly valued, and we can only condemn it from our own, modern ideas. It's hardly akin to genocides, which set out to kill for pretty much the complete opposite reason.