Posted by: antihellenistic
« on: March 13, 2024, 09:37:15 am »Western Civilization, advancement of Gentilism
Source :
The Uniqueness of Western Civilization Ricardo Duchesne page 28, 29
Quote
The first modification was quite straightforward and involved a consideration of “comparative patterns of racial and ethnic stratification,” and of “the gender division of labor and gender inequality” (1995a: 328–391). The second one conceptualized the work of Wallerstein as central to the study of social evolution throughout the world since the 16th century. The third modification included the verdict that throughout much of social evolution the material standard of living, the quality of work, and the degree of social equality had deteriorated for most of the people of the earth. Sanderson concluded that hunter-gatherer societies were the most progressive. Europe’s high culture was irrelevant. While he recognized that with the rise of industrial capitalism the standard of living of advanced societies had improved, and that in recent decades some gains had been achieved in less developed countries, he added that the gap between developed and less developed countries had steadily widened. Sanderson did not deny that individual autonomy and freedom had increased in modern industrial societies as compared to agrarian civilizations, but he still insisted that hunting and gathering bands and horticultural tribes were “the truest democracies,” and that primitive peoples enjoyed about the same if not greater individual freedom (1995b: 337–356).
Source :
The Uniqueness of Western Civilization Ricardo Duchesne page 28, 29