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The unit of account is different. Totally untethered individual freedom is unknown in East Asia and paternalistic societies have been around forever to enforce

The unit of account is different. Totally untethered individual freedom is unknown in East Asia and paternalistic societies have been around forever to enforce group norms. Different values for different folks. Some people are happy to live in conservative, stable, conformist, and low-risk societies (whether because they are brought up in such or not, though usually the former). Some people are not.

superhuzza 8y ago
"Totally untethered individual freedom is unknown in East Asia" Where in society does 'untethered individual freedom' exist? I live in Canada, a very 'free' country, yet there are many rules and laws to follow. Enough that I probably break the law multiple times per day.
forapurpose 8y ago
> Totally untethered individual freedom is unknown in East Asia It's an old argument used by dictators to justify their repression: 'Individual freedom isn't our value; it's a Western thing.' But these are inalienable universal rights, not some cultural preference. If people want to live as the Chinese Communist Party says or in some other way, they have a right to the freedom, the self-determination, to make that choice. The quote above is also obviously false. East Asia has free countries including Japan and South Korea. China has free regions, including Taiwan and, to an extent, Hong Kong. (Not coincidentally, these are by far the most prosperous political entities in East Asia.) The people of Taiwan and Hong Kong seem less than excited about giving up their freedom. Cultures all over the world implement and embrace these values, from East Asia to South Asia to Europe to almost all of the Americas. The only ones who don't are those who aren't given a choice.
- megaman22 8y ago
  Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism have put down roots as deep or deeper than Lutheran and Calvanist ideals in the west. It's a mistake to discount history.

superhuzza 8y ago

"Totally untethered individual freedom is unknown in East Asia" Where in society does 'untethered individual freedom' exist? I live in Canada, a very 'free' country, yet there are many rules and laws to follow. Enough that I probably break the law multiple times per day.

forapurpose 8y ago

> Totally untethered individual freedom is unknown in East Asia It's an old argument used by dictators to justify their repression: 'Individual freedom isn't our value; it's a Western thing.' But these are inalienable universal rights, not some cultural preference. If people want to live as the Chinese Communist Party says or in some other way, they have a right to the freedom, the self-determination, to make that choice. The quote above is also obviously false. East Asia has free countries including Japan and South Korea. China has free regions, including Taiwan and, to an extent, Hong Kong. (Not coincidentally, these are by far the most prosperous political entities in East Asia.) The people of Taiwan and Hong Kong seem less than excited about giving up their freedom. Cultures all over the world implement and embrace these values, from East Asia to South Asia to Europe to almost all of the Americas. The only ones who don't are those who aren't given a choice.

megaman22 8y ago
Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism have put down roots as deep or deeper than Lutheran and Calvanist ideals in the west. It's a mistake to discount history.