Western Culture, Essay Example

Beginning in the 17^th century, the western culture has continuously shaped human thought and defined the direction of modern civilization. Wherever it went, it changed people’s dominant traditions. In contemporary times, prevalent lifestyles in most parts of the world are imitations and imports of the west. From relationships to dressing and socialization trends, the western culture is an imprint in every sphere of human life. Nevertheless, its impact has been most felt in human reasoning, which has been shaped by rationalism, a tradition that originated in Europe and America, before finding its way to the rest of the world. It makes specific reference to the ideas of philosophers Immanuel Kant and C. S Peirce, in their promotion of reason as the basis of human behavior and action.

Immanuel Kant believed in the capacity of humans to use their reasoning power to solve their problems. He said that “. We have to rely on ourselves: we become our own author….our own authority, and we have to use and appeal to our capacity to reason and think (Kant, 2001 139).

For a long time, religion and its teachings played an important role in shaping social values. Superstition, the gods and divine revelation was central in defining human behavior and respect to authority. Divine Revelation was the highest and unquestionable form of truth. The fear of the supernatural and reverence of the gods ensured obedience and moral values. However, towards the end of the eighteenth century, pragmatism took center stage in philosophy, and pioneer pragmatists such as Charles Sanders Peirce and William James challenged beliefs based on unproved claims. They argued that everything was subject to doubt until proved true by practical evidence. It was James’ rational position that all beliefs ought to find for themselves articulate grounds (James 1902). With his maxim of logic, C.S Peirce sought to ‘dismiss make believes’ (Peirce et al 1998, 335). These arguments sparked off a controversy between religion and philosophy, a conflict that has lived to our times, giving rise to theism and atheism.

The first notions of human rights are traced to the Enlightenment period, when Chastellux asserted that any government that did not pursue the happiness of its people existed only by “imposture and force” (McMahon 2006, 217). It was the responsibility of established governments to apply scientific knowledge to avoid human suffering and pain: when children died in infancy, when disease and epidemic haunted survivors, and when many lived as slaves (Harvey 1989). Since then, respect for human rights has been adopted by modern democracies, in particular the United States’ 1776 Declaration of Independence, which recognizes all men as equal. Equality before the constitution has ensured justice at all levels. Today, musicians like Alicia Keys are involved in charitable works. Madonna on her part has adopted two orphans from Malawi.

The significance of logic in modern times cannot be exaggerated. The execution of justice and practice of law borrow from Peirce and James’ arguments on truth, logic and ‘substantial evidence.’ In academic disciplines, scientific research is central to discovery of new knowledge, supported by measurable research findings. Systematic scientific experimentation in innovation and exploration is a reflection of the necessity of consistence of outcomes to prove something as true, as advocated by the Pragmatists. A prescription for malaria must prove effective several times before it is accepted as a cure for malaria. Otherwise, quack medicine will be the disaster of our time.

When reason overruled mere irrational dispositions, superstitious beliefs were cast aside as people sought scientific solutions to psychological disorders. The reference to the soul (psych) and gods in defining insanity and madness was abandoned, and attention focused on the mental (psychological) state of the mind. This marked the beginning of clinical psychology in treating mental disorders (Cunningham and French 1990, 2). Advanced studies in psychology later led to developments in modern day psychological counseling and criminal psychology.

In governance, the quest for ‘Reason’ as opposed to ‘Divine Revelation’ led to better leadership. Rulers like Catharine and Frederick the Greats were enlightened by reason, and became ‘enlightened despots’ seeking to rule their monarchs in accordance to Natural Law and rational principles (Finkelstein and McCleery, 2005 58). What Adorno considered a disaster by virtue of deviating from tradition became a significant leap in medicine, the study of human character and governance. To this extent, the idea of rationalism that originated in the west has become a dominant feature in modern life.

Works Cited

Cunningham A., French R., K.). The Medical Enlightenment of the 18^th Century. London: Cambridge UP, 1990.

James, William. The Varieties of Religious Experiences. New York: Key Dream, 1992

Kant I. Lectures on ethics. London: Cambridge University Press. 2001

Peirce Charles R., House Nathan, Kloesel Christian J. W. The Essential Peirce: Selected Philosophical Writings. Indiana: Indiana UP, 1998.