The Meaning of Life and the Measure of Civilizations Barry Smith In what respects is Western civilization superior or inferior to its rivals? In raising this question we are addressing a particularly strong form of the problem of relativism. For in order to compare civilizations one with another we would need to be in possession of a framework that is neutral and objective, a framework based on...

Distance education is a hotly debated subject in the scientific and pedagogical environment of newest period; methodological literature, issues practical theoretical nature are actively discussed (from effectiveness remote servers to ethical that arise during classes). As positive experience, article presents materials classes course “History civilizations”, which read by author at St Petersbur...

This article builds a micro founded model of cultural conflict. In this model intrinsically motivated cultural leaders supply and interpret culture. Leaders have an incentive to amplify disagreement about cultural values. This leads to a clash of perspectives between cultures. The population benefits from the supply of culture but suffers if leaders amplify disagreement. The article discusses c...

This journey started in 1950 at Antioch College when I wrote a required Life Aims paper to make a comparative study of East and West in philosophy, religion, art, literature, and the social sciences. In 1977 I went to India on a grant for clinical psychoanalytic research to assess the psychological effects of Westernization on Indians, to ascertain differences in configurations of the self from...

The concept of civilizations dialogue has emerged relatively recently but undergone a number changes during its existence. Not to mention the fact that there is no consensus in scientific community on what exactly should be considered as civilizations. However, it obvious have been and still exist mutual relations between peoples belonging different civilizations, those that, general, fall unde...