Is there a western civilization?

Question

If we take out greek philosophy and christianity, western civilization is pretty much left with only one thing: technique and science. Now, technique and science has existed in all civilizations, but this one has the luck to have it more advanced than others. So, isn't western civilization actually pretty young, isn't most of the real work yet to be done?

Answer 1

yes, but there is nothing to be proud with it. :-) justOne

Answer 2

I'm not sure I get your point- 'western civilization' is just a term usually used to describe the cultures of western Europe and North America, which are different in a number of ways from those of the rest of the world

As to whether western civilization is young, that depends on exactly how wide a range of characteristics your definition of 'western civilization' includes, and what you would define as the standard for age. For instance, people have been living in Europe since the beginning of civilization, but certain important qualities of modern Europe didn't come into being until the last century- and, in terms of the modern era, the last century isn't young at all!

I do, though, agree with you about civilization having more work ahead of it then behind it-- nobody has a clue where the limits of civilization are, and that's probably a good sign.

Answer 3

Of course there's a western civilization. What else would you call the civilizations of North America & Europe?

Aside from science, you left out another major contribution from western civ: the liberal democracy. See Wiki article below.

Answer 4

Considering that recorded history is about 5,000 years old and that the so called ancient world ended about 2,000 years ago, we still have 1,000 years to equal them.

But never has the world seen so many people know so much as those of today. We have already reached heights never dreamed by the ancients. So, progression wise, we have already exceeded them ten fold.