From: Johannes Volmert (jvolmert@student.uni-kassel.de)
Date: Fri Jan 16 2004 - 17:19:36 GMT
Hi Platt, Wim
the intellectual values that basically influenced the declaration of
independence are mostly grounded in the European movement, that was
later called 'enlightenment'. It was not only Locke, but many important
thinkers of all over Europe who shaped most of the values, that found
entry not only into the American Constitution but into that of most of
the so-called western countries and also the UNO-values. I'm not at
all well informed about the important protagonists of the enlightenment,
but I can name at least Rousseau, Voltaire and partly Kant.
I have read recently an interesting article about Kant and his role
during the enlightenment (He died in 1804). In this article is also
mentioned one publication of Jean-Jacques Rousseau in 1762, titeled
'Emile' , which deals upon the individuality of a person and later an
essay titled 'The articles of partnership (also in 1762)'.
Oh, Platt, "socialist shadow "!? You have never been to Europe, have
you? Do you really think that Porsches, Mercedes', BMWs or Audis have
been built in a socialistic country or other europeans luxury products
that are exported to the USA?!
Europeans care about balance, as Wim has already said, but not to the
extent that everybody has the same income. Europeans consider it humane
to protect weak people against the worst hardships of life, which finds
my agreement. Besides nowadays we can notice a shift in some european
countries, at least in Germany, to demand more individual responsibility
from their citizens.
Americans and Europeans seem at least to differ on the question what
socialism is. What I furthermore notice as one of the big differences
between Europe and America is their status of informedness concerning
what is going on in countries outside their native country. It's not
only the USA - for immanent reasons - that are of interest for most
Europeans but also other ones like China, Japan, India and of course
neighbouring countries inside Europe itself.
Though not having been travelled to America so far - apart from most
european countries, the only Oversea-country I've been to, is Australia
in '90 - I guess the german press (and that is presumably also true for
other European countries; Wim can possibly tell you for the netherlands)
gives me an sufficient picture of the ongoings all around the world
because it deals regulary with non-german topics; appr. more than the
half of an average newspaper or magazine is about non-german topics.
That certainly is not the case with the American press, especially after
the last election (and it will at least not diminish when Bush gets his
second term). I think I can jugde that, because I do read regulary some
of the online versions of three american newspapers.
What more seems to be largely unknown to the 'average American' that the
democratic process and the beginning of a participation of a single
individual in shaping his/her social surroundings, neither in Germany
nor elsewhere in European countries, started with the ending of WWII,
but in fact mostly during the 18th or 19th century.
One interesting statement of one german historian (or philosopher) in
the mentioned article about Kant was - and that in a way partly confirms
your point of view - that he seems to have been the last german
philosopher that can be understood by an American.
Best regards, JoVo
Platt Holden wrote:
>Dear Wim:
>
>
>
>>The ideas that
>>Americans value so highly are not unique to them either (incidentally they
>>were borrowed from the French thinkers that spawned the French revolution).
>>The not-so-great thing about Americans is, that they tend to make an
>>unbalanced selection from those borrowed ideas (putting 'freedom' on top
>>and relatively neglecting 'equality' and 'brotherhood').
>>
>>
>
>Since the war for American independence preceded the French revolution by
>13 years (1776 vs. 1789) it's false to claim that American values were
>borrowed from the French. Rather, the greatest influence on American
>values were the writings of the Englishman John Locke. Furthermore, you
>will not find references to "brotherhood" (fraternity) in American
>revolutionary documents. That's a strictly European value, seized upon by
>Marx and his followers (comrades) with the resultant socialist shadow that
>overlays Europe to this day. As for "equality," the American value is
>equality before the law, not equality of outcomes and redistribution of
>income so dear to the European notion of justice.
>
>Regarding American arrogance, I think it was Babe Ruth who said, "It ain't
>bragging if it's true."
>
>Regards,
>Platt
>
>
>
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