The morality edge of liking a culture not your own

[Argeus the Paladin]

As you may have known via a couple of threads, your faithfully happens to like many cultures not his own - Germanic, Roman, Greek and Japanese, to say a few. I'd say Chinese, but since China's culture has been so absorbed into our own way of lfe that point would as well be moot.

So here's the question: What is the morality of liking or being fascinated with a culture that you are not born into? Is it moral or natural in any way or shape? Does it conflict with nationalism or patriotism in any way? And most importantly, is it generally acceptable, and if yes, at which point does it top being so?

Discuss.

[Fiyenyaa]

As you may have known via a couple of threads, your faithfully happens to like many cultures not his own - Germanic, Roman, Greek and Japanese, to say a few. I'd say Chinese, but since China's culture has been so absorbed into our own way of lfe that point would as well be moot.

So here's the question: What is the morality of liking or being fascinated with a culture that you are not born into? Is it moral or natural in any way or shape? Does it conflict with nationalism or patriotism in any way? And most importantly, is it generally acceptable, and if yes, at which point does it top being so?

Discuss.

I think it does conflict with nationalism and patriotism, and that's why it's good. If you know and study about other cultures you are less likely not to care about other people. Less divisiveness is generally a good thing.

[Wilder]

As you may have known via a couple of threads, your faithfully happens to like many cultures not his own - Germanic, Roman, Greek and Japanese, to say a few. I'd say Chinese, but since China's culture has been so absorbed into our own way of lfe that point would as well be moot.

So here's the question: What is the morality of liking or being fascinated with a culture that you are not born into? Is it moral or natural in any way or shape? Does it conflict with nationalism or patriotism in any way? And most importantly, is it generally acceptable, and if yes, at which point does it top being so?

Discuss.

What is "a culture"? you are phrasing it like they are homogeneous entities distinct from one another. That is crap and we all know it.


Morally though? if you are a xenophile I would argue you are morally superior. Many great evils, like wars, persecution and genocide (almost all of them actually) have been committed because of belief in the superiority of one's own kind, none because you like or are interested in others. We all know this, but it is so obvious I think people overlook it in favor of more challenging explanations for evil.

[Argeus the Paladin]

Today it may be not, I concur. Globalization and all that.

But you all know that in the ages past the Greeks had nothing in common to, say, the Chinese or the Vietnamese. That is the form of "foreign" I am trying to talk about.

[Wilder]

Today it may be not, I concur. Globalization and all that.

But you all know that in the ages past the Greeks had nothing in common to, say, the Chinese or the Vietnamese. That is the form of "foreign" I am trying to talk about.

Nothing? Really? I'm not going to try and dig something up but I bet I could.

That said though, I know what you mean, I'm just hashing your groove cuz I don't like the worldview it invokes. You may want to rephrase by asking "what are the moral implications of liking or sympathizing with foreigners?" It's a good question.

I would ask though, what are the moral implications of preferring people like yourself over those who are different.

[Argeus the Paladin]

This may or may not be linked, I'd like to clarify, with my thread about weaboos in the Arts section.

That's the reason why I use the word "culture".

[Squiggle]

As you may have known via a couple of threads, your faithfully happens to like many cultures not his own - Germanic, Roman, Greek and Japanese, to say a few. I'd say Chinese, but since China's culture has been so absorbed into our own way of lfe that point would as well be moot.

So here's the question: What is the morality of liking or being fascinated with a culture that you are not born into? Is it moral or natural in any way or shape? Does it conflict with nationalism or patriotism in any way? And most importantly, is it generally acceptable, and if yes, at which point does it top being so?

Discuss.

It has nothing to do with morality, it is not natural or acceptable in anyway. And yes of course it conflicts with Nationalism and Patriotism.

[Argeus the Paladin]

Can you clarify?

[Squiggle]

Can you clarify?

Morality- All about acting in a virtuous manner, liking or approving of another culture has nothing to do with morality, unless that Culture is amoral and you follow their patterns of actions.

Natural- You naturally form a bond with your kin, your tribe and so forth. The Nation and your society are essentially just that, therefore viewing another tribe/family in an extraordinarily positive almost envious light goes against the natural favoritism built into humanity.

Acceptability- You favour a culture you have little to no first hand experience in, its pathetic. It immediately makes the presupposition that the Culture you were born into has enormous flaws [flaws because you find significant virtue elsewhere, enormous because you are in fact fascinated with another culture rather than simply accepting, matter of degree obviously.] which is self degrading. Beyond that, rather than arguing for social reform or attempting to affect positive change in society you just look on longingly to a far away and exotic land. The only way to overcome ones natural passions [the support and favoritism of yourself and things related to you] is either through self hatred or social isolation.

Nationalism/Patriotism: Already said why, you look towards other societies and people for your cues on whats right and wrong, which means you are immediately on your own.

[Fiyenyaa]

Acceptability- You favour a culture you have little to no first hand experience in, its pathetic.

Who said anything about favouring it? We are talking about "liking" a culture which is not the one you were brought up in - this would probably mean study and partaking in said culture, but it wouldn't mean you favour it.

[Squiggle]

Who said anything about favouring it? We are talking about "liking" a culture which is not the one you were brought up in - this would probably mean study and partaking in said culture, but it wouldn't mean you favour it.

So here's the question: What is the morality of liking or being fascinated with a culture that you are not born into? Is it moral or natural in any way or shape? Does it conflict with nationalism or patriotism in any way? And most importantly, is it generally acceptable, and if yes, at which point does it top being so?

Discuss.

Who is fascinated by something [to the point of being a weaboo for god sakes] if they do not favour it? A fascination is an extremely intense interest, you don't have that intense interest in the basic and remedial actions of a people unless you want that yourself, because you like it more.

Unless your area of expertise is related to the study of cultures and human behaviour or whatever, but direct fascination just as an average person? Pretty blatant.

[Wilder]

Natural- You naturally form a bond with your kin, your tribe and so forth. The Nation and your society are essentially just that,

No it isn't. In any case, favoring our own kind may be natural, but dividing ourselves into geographical nations most assuredly isn't.

Acceptability- You favour a culture you have little to no first hand experience in, its pathetic.

making some sweeping assumptions here are we? I have plenty of experience with other cultures.

[Ludicus]

So here's the question: What is the morality of liking or being fascinated with a culture that you are not born into?

Morality?
----
Russell- Wood, in the book " A World on the Move":
"By the way of introduction, let me begin with two anecdotes. One day at breakfast, my older son Chistopher (aged 11) announced " Daddy, I want to be a historian." Unprepared for this conversational gambit do early in the day, undiplomatically but spontaneously, I replied " Good God. Why?" To which he rejoined:"because there is so much action"
He was right, of course. This is part of the appeal of history:people, a plot, and action. The unfailing attraction which history of Portugal holds for me lies in the unceasing ebb and flow of people, commodities, flora and fauna, ideas, and influences, with the globe as stage."...

The "unfailing attraction": it seems to me that it has nothing to do with the morality.

[Argeus the Paladin]

Perhaps the word "morality" I use here pertains to a particular line of perception in my country. Patriotism and nationalism is good for one's country, therefore it is the right thing to do and thus moral. That is why I question whether deviating from that line of thinking would be conversely immoral.

[Fiyenyaa]

Perhaps the word "morality" I use here pertains to a particular line of perception in my country. Patriotism and nationalism is good for one's country, therefore it is the right thing to do and thus moral. That is why I question whether deviating from that line of thinking would be conversely immoral.

Arguable. Extreme patriotism and nationalism tends to pave the way for unbalenced forms of government, and favouring your own country to the detriment of others could come back and bite you in the arse later on. They certainly shouldn't be uncritically viewed as moral.

Who is fascinated by something [to the point of being a weaboo for god sakes] if they do not favour it? A fascination is an extremely intense interest, you don't have that intense interest in the basic and remedial actions of a people unless you want that yourself, because you like it more.

Unless your area of expertise is related to the study of cultures and human behaviour or whatever, but direct fascination just as an average person? Pretty blatant.

So you are saying that anyone who is fascinated with, for example, the culture of Nazi Germany is automatically in favour of it? I can be fascinated with something without being in favour of it - I can in fact be against it.

[Helm]

You mean like Weaboos? Not unless you count general annoyness as immorality.

[Argeus the Paladin]

You mean like Weaboos? Not unless you count general annoyness as immorality.

That depends right on your definition of weaboo.

Since I know there is a sweeping accusation among many people that liking anime/manga/Japanese history, all of which I do by default, automatically makes one a weaboo.

[Sir Winston Churchill]

I think it's wrong to not be interested in other cultures. Knowledge of how other people live life and why they do things can stop alot of conflicts from happening, and all around give you more diverse ways to look at life.

Being dogmatic only leads to misunderstandings and conflicts.

[Fiyenyaa]

I think it's wrong to not be interested in other cultures. Knowledge of how other people live life and why they do things can stop alot of conflicts from happening, and all around give you more diverse ways to look at life.

Being dogmatic only leads to misunderstandings and conflicts.

What do you know - you and I actually agree on something.

[Sir Winston Churchill]

What do you know - you and I actually agree on something.

Lol I know, who knew? Wait, did a piece of the sky just land on my desk? O.o