The Western World

Originally posted by Eis
Yes you did, you told me it all came down to race and money.

Maybe, I talk a lot when the days are long.

But for me The Western World is a term that I use when I want to refer to a bunch of countries. Namely Western Europe (UK, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, France, Germany, Italy, Scandinavia), Australia, Japan the US and Canada and maybe a few more I forgot.

Originally posted by Eis
So Argentina, Chile, Mexico and Cuba are all part of the Western World?

Of course.

Originally posted by Janus Marius
Countries in the western hemisphere whose culture derives from a European country.

"The West" is culture based on a foundation of ideals starting with the ancient Greeks, Romans, and later on the nations of Europe. Whenever you mention "western philosophy", or "western nations", these come up.

Is South America included there? What about parts of Africa? Is Japan part of it?

Originally posted by Janus Marius
Of course.

Originally posted by Eis
Good, now Bardock go throw yourself out of the window.

Dude....Cuba?

If Cuba is included it is just a Synonym for Western Hemisphere.

Originally posted by Bardock42
Is South America included there? What about parts of Africa? Is Japan part of it?

South America yes. Africa? Doubtful. Africa in itself is a whole different continent. While it was exploited and effected by the West, I wouldn't say African nations are neccessarily Western. They don't reflect a foundation of Western thought and culture. And Japan definately doesn't count. Just because Japan seems Americana doesn't mean it's Western; by that mindset, Europe in the middle ages was Arabic and Mongolian.

Originally posted by Bardock42
I, sadly, can't find any true definition of "The Western World". I just know how we use it in Germany, and I think I know how they use it in the US. ANd I just don't think South America is considered part of it. While Japan is.

If you've been Japan, there's no way you'd consider it 'western'.

Originally posted by Bardock42
ANd I just don't think South America is considered part of it.

🤨 How do you figure? South American countries are based on European culture and speak European languages.

But you consider Japan a Western country? Where's the logic in that?

Bottom line, the "Western World" is purported to be those countries that support democracy, and the East is the antithesis of that ideaology. It's a devisive term, end of story. It implies "us" against "them"

Originally posted by Ya Krunk'd Floo
If you've been Japan, there's no way you'd consider it 'western'.

Originally posted by Capt_Fantastic
Bottom line, the "Western World" is purported to be those countries that support democracy, and the East is the antithesis of that ideaology. It's a devisive term, end of story. It implies "us" against "them"

Originally posted by Eis
So what Cuba isn't western? Maybe that's how they used it during the cold war but it's not what most people mean when they use it now.

What most people mean, and how it's interpreted are two different things, aren't they?

Originally posted by Quiero Mota
🤨 How do you figure? South American countries are based on European culture and speak European languages.

But you consider Japan a Western country? Where's the logic in that?

Hmm, I don't know. Eis says it's cause I'm racist.....

No, Western cullture are different than are communism and democracy. One exists and the other is concieved. No, they are not the same. Western Democracies are different than are eastern democracies. Such was explained earlier.

Originally posted by Capt_Fantastic
What most people mean, and how it's interpreted are two different things, aren't they?

No, Western cullture are different than are communism and democracy. One exists and the other is concieved. No, they are not the same. Western Democracies are different than are eastern democracies. Such was explained earlier.

Except that a major eastern country (India) is the world's biggest democracy, and communism comes from European philosopher Karl Marx, indicating that it has European roots. West and East aren't jut catchphrases for democracy and non-democracy obviously. It's a lot deeper than that. Russia was considered a Western society back during the Age of Enlightenment, when Russian courts attempted to function and dress like their European counterparts. The orthodox religion has distinct Western roots.

Really, Russia is effectively Western AND Eastern, while India, though democratic, is clearly Eastern because of its cultural base.

Originally posted by Janus Marius
Except that a major eastern country (India) is the world's biggest democracy, and communism comes from European philosopher Karl Marx, indicating that it has European roots. West and East aren't jut catchphrases for democracy and non-democracy obviously. It's a lot deeper than that. Russia was considered a Western society back during the Age of Enlightenment, when Russian courts attempted to function and dress like their European counterparts. The orthodox religion has distinct Western roots.

Really, Russia is effectively Western AND Eastern, while India, though democratic, is clearly Eastern because of its cultural base.

indeed...

so all we've really done in this thread is narrow it down to what "western" isnt defined as

it isnt capitalism v communism
it isnt christianity v islam
it isnt geographical
it isnt cultural

which leaves, as i mentioned, ideological...which is really derived from a big mix of all the other stuff that we've defined that it isn't

mmm

I'm not one to blow my own trumpet, but you ain't the only one thinking along those lines, ol' Jaden...

Originally posted by Ya Krunk'd Floo
I believe the West has a base in the US and Europe, but through the joys of imperialism and colonisation it has spread to include South Africa and Austrailia. Regardless of its historical genesis, it now means people from those countries who have shared cultural and religious ideologies.

I'm a little out of breath after that, but what I am saying is: "Yes, we're right.

I trace back the "Westerness" of a society based on whether or not it can trace its ideologies and culture back to Greece and Rome.

Originally posted by Janus Marius
I trace back the "Westerness" of a society based on whether or not it can trace its ideologies and culture back to Greece and Rome.

I always considered it a mix of the Classics, the Renaissance and the Age of Enlightenment.

Hey, Bardock started a thread....😱

The Western world is anything that's not East............That's all that I could come up with...........