Re: The formation of culture -- Adilbrand Noblesword's Hall of Warriors

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Date Posted: 12:32:04 04/15/04 Thu
Author: Bob
Subject: Re: The formation of culture
In reply to: mvd 's message, "The formation of culture" on 07:52:16 04/15/04 Thu

You're striking on a very central idea. A professor of mine always said that we understand everything in the context of a system of differences. A thorough rejection of Platonic forms and all that they embodied and evolved into. (*cough*)Religion(*cough*)

What's especially important with such notions is that our understanding of culture and, well, everything is through language. We use the structures of language to posit meaning yet meaning cannot exist outside of differences.

Simply put: "Red" has no meaning without understanding its relationship to "Blue" or "Yellow"

Or more complexly: "Hatred" both as a feeling and a concept is only distinguishable when compared with "Love" or "Fear".

Taking this idea to its logical conclusion you end up with a world concept where there is no anchor, even meaning itself is relative and we have only our senses and experiences as points of reference.

As humans, we understand ourselves in this same light. Self knowledge comes, not from "within" or from some singular source (soul, or what have you) but from how we differentiate ourselves from others. I get to know me better by getting to know others better. My own self view is derived from how I percieve my differences.

Groups (or cultures) function exactly the same way.

I have more to say but wil leave it for later . . .

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Replies:

Re: The formation of culture -- mvd, 15:30:56 04/15/04 Thu
- Yes -- stu, 22:26:47 04/15/04 Thu