MMW 13 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Mass Production, Work Ethic, Eurocentrism
14 Apr 2017
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Document Summary
Mmw 13 lecture 1 introduction to course themes. Western culture unique in change, innovation, rationality, entrepreneurship. Eurocentric = something unique and exceptional in western cultures: change, innovation, reason instead of superstition, entrepreneurship unique to europe, non-west traditional, stuck in their ways, 15th century: west destined for progress, but asia was immobilized by tradition. Prior to 15th century, europe was stuck in religious attitude. Vale of tears": world filled with suffering, not real existence, true salvation found in the afterlife. Late medieval, europe shed ideology of renunciation, shifted to belief in the infinite potential of human agency. Only in the west is there a spirit of adventure and exploration. Only in the west was there risk-taking. Only in the west was the innovational personality. Only in the west emphasis on rationality. Was the rest of the world always stuck in religious dogmatism that held back back. Dynamism in the traditional" non-western cultures: confucianism: perfectability through learning.
