Western Civ, before the postmodernists got to it, was about the Occidental yin/yang of Roman and Greek thought.
Roman in the sense that if another culture (conquered or not) did things better than the current Roman method, the new method was adopted. This allowed them to roll over all opposition and only slowed to a stop when it was found that spending other people's money on bread and circuses got you into power easier than continuing to adapt. The Roman way can be seen in the Renaissance and laissez-faire.
Greek in a way that can be summed up in how Archimedes died (in Plutarch's account): Marcellus's men came upon Archimedes and commanded him to come and meet the general. Archimedes told soldiers "do not disturb my circles" and the enraged soldier cut him down. Greek thought is what led to theoretical mathematics and science vs. Roman applied mathematics and science. It also led to utopian/idealized thinking that becomes blind to facts when those facts do not conform to theory/model. Models are wonderful tools as long as you do not lose sight of the fact they do not take into account all the confounding variables of life.
I feel that for far too many decades the US has allowed Greek thinking to prevail. We, as a culture, have become unbalanced. Worse, we are making more use of bread and circuses. While there is much chatter to "throw the bums out", little is done at the ballot box.
Strange times we live in.
Roman in the sense that if another culture (conquered or not) did things better than the current Roman method, the new method was adopted. This allowed them to roll over all opposition and only slowed to a stop when it was found that spending other people's money on bread and circuses got you into power easier than continuing to adapt. The Roman way can be seen in the Renaissance and laissez-faire.
Greek in a way that can be summed up in how Archimedes died (in Plutarch's account): Marcellus's men came upon Archimedes and commanded him to come and meet the general. Archimedes told soldiers "do not disturb my circles" and the enraged soldier cut him down. Greek thought is what led to theoretical mathematics and science vs. Roman applied mathematics and science. It also led to utopian/idealized thinking that becomes blind to facts when those facts do not conform to theory/model. Models are wonderful tools as long as you do not lose sight of the fact they do not take into account all the confounding variables of life.
I feel that for far too many decades the US has allowed Greek thinking to prevail. We, as a culture, have become unbalanced. Worse, we are making more use of bread and circuses. While there is much chatter to "throw the bums out", little is done at the ballot box.
Strange times we live in.
