Similarities all cultures share

**Mr Longbowman** · January 09, 2011, 03:27 PM

I've been gruelling on this question for quite some time and haven't really come up with anything of significance.

Murder for instance, different cultures have different opinions on the taking of another mans life which is expected. Interestingly all cultures I ran into share the idea that the taking of someones life should be controlled and authorized by some form of authority.

Are there any similarities which I may have overlooked?

I realize this might be more of a biological question than a historical so feel free to move it.

**Kurtz** · January 09, 2011, 08:39 PM

Everyone hates Jews.

**Trax** · January 09, 2011, 08:43 PM

Originally Posted by Paul the Octopus

Everyone hates Jews.

Including the Jews.

**RomanSoldier9001** · January 09, 2011, 11:48 PM

Originally Posted by Paul the Octopus

Everyone hates Jews.

Is true...

But on topic not all cultures share the idea of authory that forbidens muder many cultures dont even had idea of Authory.

**Edgar Arakelyan** · January 09, 2011, 10:05 PM

LOL!

**El Brujo** · January 09, 2011, 10:18 PM

Murder for instance, different cultures have different opinions on the taking of another mans life which is expected. Interestingly all cultures I ran into share the idea that the taking of someones life should be controlled and authorized by some form of authority.

Most cultures look differently on the murder of a foreigner differently compared to the murder of a member of the group. Native American tribes for example had low rates of intratribal murder but killed members of rival tribes all the time.

**Londinium** · January 09, 2011, 10:29 PM

To be honest there are very few things that all humans innately agree on. In the modern day you could suggest that human rights (and what they consist of) is one of them but then vast swathes of the world blatantly ignore them. Also it must be remembered that the modern day conception of human rights is an expressly Western Europe Liberal view of humanity. It's a political concept that has emerged out of philosophy and isn't particularly natural in any way.

Even looking at your murder example. It's true that the majority of cultures look down upon murder. However look at England/Britain, from the late Middle Ages to the modern day one of the most politically sophisticated nations which has given us much of the liberal view that permeates modern politics. Yet up until the mid 19th century it was legal for two men to duel over their honour, if one shot the other it was murder yet viewed seemingly as acceptable.

**irontaino** · January 10, 2011, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by Londinium

Even looking at your murder example. It's true that the majority of cultures look down upon murder. However look at England/Britain, from the late Middle Ages to the modern day one of the most politically sophisticated nations which has given us much of the liberal view that permeates modern politics. Yet up until the mid 19th century it was legal for two men to duel over their honour, if one shot the other it was murder yet viewed seemingly as acceptable.

The American Old West is another good example. In some areas, it was perfectly legal to shoot another man as long as he had a gun on him. It was frowned upon, but legal. Now people get put away for life if they try that.

**Trax** · January 09, 2011, 10:49 PM

Also it must be remembered that the modern day conception of human rights is an expressly Western Europe Liberal view of humanity. It's a political concept that has emerged out of philosophy and isn't particularly natural in any way.

Such statements make me want to violate the human rights of people making them.