主题英语角第58期：东西文化差别 The differences between modern western culture and traditional eastern culture

[Nick]

活动通知

主题英语角第58期：东西文化差别
Topic: The difference between eastern and western culture

活动时间：2009年11月25日 周三晚19:30－21:30
活动地点：青年路（巡津街）516号盛达商务大厦 707室
昆明市第一人民医院往螺丝湾方向走200米路口处
公交车：乘59、63、90、98、107、109、112、117、161路车到巡津街站下

本次主题讨论的目的 Purpose of the topic for this time

探讨东西方文化的差别
To discuss the differences between eastern and western culture

关于主题的一些最初的想法 Some initial thoughts about the topic

Behaviors are influenced by thoughts.We seem to be facing two major
patterns of thoughts-western and eastern,modern and tradional. How are
we influenced by these different thoughts?

与大家一起探讨的问题:
Opening question for big group:
How much do you think you are influenced by modern western culture and
how much by traditional eastern culture? Why?

Step by step questions for small group discussion:
1. What do you think are the differences between modern western
culture and traditional eastern culture?
2. Could you give some examples of these differences?
3. Do you think these differences will lead to different results for
individual and society？If yes, what are they?
4. Do you think we should balance between these two patterns of
thoughts? How or why not?

——Nick

[景平·Alex]

Really a too-big topic that required much studying

[景平·Alex]

建议，可以建立一个QQ群，这个互动性就更强了

----- Original Message -----

From: Nick

To: 昆明博睿思主题英语角论坛

Sent: 2009-11-25, 15:52:03

[Nick]

Many of us are more influenced by modern western culture than we
realize. And it is true that we don’t even know enough about
traditional eastern culture. I am glad we have spent some time to
reflect.

Personally, I feel some important wisdom from traditional eastern
culture have been overlooked while some modern western thoughts are
overly stressed.

One examples is that the importance of social structure and bond are
overlooked while individual freedom is overly stressed.

When individualism is encouraged, many values that hold society
together are weakened, whether they are related with family,
marriage, neighborhood, friends, work, etc. Let’s look at family for
example, traditional values that keep a family together are children’s
responsibility to respect,obey and care for their parents, as well as
parents’ responsibility to educate and guide their children. With
modern idea of individual freedom, the importance of obedience are
challenged, instead, individualism encourage children to be more self
concerned and to take less responsibility for others under good names
such as “being independent”, “believing in yourself”, “being
special”,“following your own dream”and so on.

When more people become self concerned, people are not really taking
care of each other. They tend to judge each other rather than to love
each other. They are forced to be independent! Compared to taking more
responsibilities for others, being independent is just a second
choice.

With modern individualism, the meaning of life is pursued by
individual, rather than shared and enhenced by the social group, such
families, Danwei, and even the whole country. In this case, people
feel lonely. The truth sought individually, no matter how ideal and
correct in its theory, would fail to grapple reality. Of what use is
that truth if it doesn’t bring a practical experience of love?
Happiness is real when it is shared!

At this moment, I see a lot of wisdom in traditional eastern culture,
which takes a more organic and social approach toward development. But
surely, it is seriously challenged today by modern western influence.

[Vane Train]

Kudos, Nick :) :) I like your statement, that is what is going on now in the western world - self-learning which is not enough.

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