Western Civilization

[pjohns]

I recently saw a rather interesting take on the meaning of Western Civilization. It went something like this:

Although we often speak of "Western Civilization" as if it were a single concept, there are really two different meanings to the term. They are as follows: (1) "Western Civilization" may mean the Judeo-Christian tradition that has been handed down to us.

(2) "Western Civilization" may also refer to the post-Enlightenment era. (The Enlightenment, of course, featured such philosophers as Descartes; Voltaire; Rousseau; Hagel; Hobbes; Kant; and Mill--just to name a few.)

Comments?

[rcfieldz]

What is commonly known as the opposite of Eastern Civilization.

[Chris]

1 should include Graeco-Roman, Germanic, and other traditions.

2 I see sometimes but think some if not most of those thinkers drew on 1 for their ideas.

[Peter1469]

What is commonly known as the opposite of Eastern Civilization.

The Orient.

Occidental is another way to refer to the Western World.

[Mister D]

1 and 2 are intimately linked in so far as 2 represents the secularization of 1 (i.e. of Christian themes). The "West" is, by and large, a product of the Roman Catholic Church.