Can I take on Roy's wishes and expression about universal values without
getting myself into serious trouble? I don't think so. (Does this refect
that there are universal values or only that there are widespread
sensitivities ... or maybe universal psychological reactions.)
But, if it I don't do it anyway, then I'll have missed a great opportunity
to participate in a conversation - a great opportunity for expression and
exploration. So .... here goes.
>For example, I believe that all cultures value wisdom, honesty,
>loyalty, spirituality, having a body of rules/laws by which community
>is governed.
I have experienced mid-east cultures which, BY WESTERN STANDARDS, do not
value honesty. I have experienced eastern cultures which, BY WESTERN
STANDARDS, do not value honesty. Do they value honesty BY THEIR OWN
STANDARDS? I don't know because the way that they talk about issues that
we consider "honesty" do not compute with me IN MY OWN SYSTEM. I have
similar experiences with loyalty and rule of law - and even wisdom and
spirituality. (The latter two in western cultures.)
My point here is that I can only make the statement Roy makes if I do a
great deal of twisting, generous interpreting, and forcing together
concepts, ideas, practices that I can't authentically reconcile. By the
time I've gone this far, it is too far fetched for me to say that "we all
value some basics". It isn't just situational, it's cultural or
linguistic or deeply in practices that I don't understand.
And that's the closest I can get. It is sufficiently close to be able to
operate effectively in these other cultures and to appreciate them deeply
even when I can't pretend to understand them or relate them to my own
culture.
> If people in any large group are asked: would they rather be
>surrounded by honest people or by deceitful liars, I am sure you will
>ALWAYS get a majority preference for being surrounded by honest
>people.
Sure. This is likely. But that's because the question is framed in
western language in western logic in western thinking and the alternative
is western. Asked this way to someone who understand the west and the
language, of course the answer is predictable.
But the question would not be framed that way in their language and logic
and culture so it is not valid.
Michael McMaster : Michael@kbddean.demon.co.uk
book cafe site : http://www.vision-nest.com/BTBookCafe
Intelligence is the underlying organisational principle
of the universe. Heraclitus
--Michael McMaster <Michael@kbddean.demon.co.uk>
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>