Many of the ideas that we take for granted in “the West” today first saw the light of day in the 17th and 18th Centuries – a period known as “the Age of Reason”. But in today’s troubled world, these ideas are under threat politically, and questioned academically.
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Five lessons from my professional life prompt a research proposal to study the influence of dominant narratives and tribalism in international relations.
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As our world becomes more interconnected and interdependent, it’s crucial that we embrace diverse perspectives and foster genuine collaboration across cultures. A “West is Best” attitude has long dominated international relations, but a growing body of evidence from fields like anthropology, neuroscience, history, and political science calls for a reevaluation.
An international interdisciplinary academic study can bring together scholars from diverse fields and cultural backgrounds to challenge the “West is Best” narrative and explore alternative viewpoints. By incorporating insights from experts like Iain McGilchrist, Geoffrey Vickers, Eric Wolf, Hugo Mercier, and Bill Isaacs, this study can foster greater understanding, challenge biases, and promote collaboration across cultures and disciplines.
In these challenging times, let’s move beyond outdated attitudes and work together to build a more inclusive and cooperative world for all.
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Under the aegis of the Roman Empire, early Christianity morphed into Christendom and incorporated ideas from Greek philosophy. These composite ideas spawned the ‘natural philosophy’ that later became modern science. The Black Death, the Renaissance and the Enlightenment nurtured science and simultaneously planted the seeds of Christendom’s destruction.
In Europe, and consequently in America after its colonization by Europeans, Christendom helped shape the culture from which the world as we know it today emerged.
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A brief review of the rise and fall of Christendom in Western Europe that illustrates the inevitable entanglement of politics, culture, and philosophy with questions about the relationship of religion to science.
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