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These same arguments are made about race in the US too. In fact, I think looking at both through the lens of caste is a better way to interrogate some of the i

These same arguments are made about race in the US too. In fact, I think looking at both through the lens of caste is a better way to interrogate some of the issues. I thought this podcast made that point in a pretty compelling way: https://cafe.com/stay-tuned/americas-caste-system-with-isabel-wilkerson/ https://cafe.com/stay-tuned/americas-caste-system-with-isabe...

sharadov 6y ago
Interesting, I'll check it out. The caste system in India was originally based on profession, and people could move around freely between "castes" , at some point it was co-opted by assholes for their benefit.
- travmatt 6y ago
  I believe Europe had a guild system that operated in the same way, IIRC. I’d be curious about how those systems compared and evolved.
- danans 6y ago
  > The caste system in India was originally based on profession That is the official political line, but the reality (as always) was much more complex. It also had a significant tribal, multi-racial, and multi-cultural bases, all evidenced in scriptures and the cultural, linguistic, and genetic landscape of the Indian subcontinent (including Pakistan, Bangladish, Nepal, and Sri Lanka). In that respect it's nothing unique even to India - the social structures of most of the world were built on the same basis.
- fhood 6y ago
  I find the notion that discrimination based on profession is somehow acceptable extremely strange.
  - jagannathtech 6y ago
    Not discrimination but division of labour or separation of powers to put it in current day context
- ma2rten 6y ago
  I have been studding Buddhist scriptures and I don't think this true. The following quote is from 2,500 years ago: [The] brahmins say: ‘Only brahmins are the highest caste; other castes are inferior. Only brahmins are the light caste; other castes are dark. Only brahmins are purified, not others. Only brahmins are Brahmā’s rightful sons, born of his mouth, born of Brahmā, created by Brahmā, heirs of Brahmā. https://suttacentral.net/dn27/en/sujato#dn27:4.13 https://suttacentral.net/dn27/en/sujato#dn27:4.13
  - sharadov 6y ago
    "There is no evidence in the Rigveda for an elaborate, much-subdivided and overarching caste system". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caste_system_in_India https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caste_system_in_India
    - ma2rten 6y ago
      I'm certainly not an expert in Indian history, but it seems that there was a caste system 500 BC with four castes which people were born into. Is there evidence that people were able to move between castes before that time?
therealdrag0 6y ago
Another one but with Ezra Klein hosting: https://www.vox.com/2020/8/25/21399479/caste-the-warmth-of-other-suns-isabel-wilkerson-the-ezra-klein-show-race https://www.vox.com/2020/8/25/21399479/caste-the-warmth-of-o...

sharadov 6y ago

Interesting, I'll check it out. The caste system in India was originally based on profession, and people could move around freely between "castes" , at some point it was co-opted by assholes for their benefit.

travmatt 6y ago
I believe Europe had a guild system that operated in the same way, IIRC. I’d be curious about how those systems compared and evolved.
danans 6y ago
> The caste system in India was originally based on profession That is the official political line, but the reality (as always) was much more complex. It also had a significant tribal, multi-racial, and multi-cultural bases, all evidenced in scriptures and the cultural, linguistic, and genetic landscape of the Indian subcontinent (including Pakistan, Bangladish, Nepal, and Sri Lanka). In that respect it's nothing unique even to India - the social structures of most of the world were built on the same basis.
fhood 6y ago
I find the notion that discrimination based on profession is somehow acceptable extremely strange.
- jagannathtech 6y ago
  Not discrimination but division of labour or separation of powers to put it in current day context
ma2rten 6y ago
I have been studding Buddhist scriptures and I don't think this true. The following quote is from 2,500 years ago: [The] brahmins say: ‘Only brahmins are the highest caste; other castes are inferior. Only brahmins are the light caste; other castes are dark. Only brahmins are purified, not others. Only brahmins are Brahmā’s rightful sons, born of his mouth, born of Brahmā, created by Brahmā, heirs of Brahmā. https://suttacentral.net/dn27/en/sujato#dn27:4.13 https://suttacentral.net/dn27/en/sujato#dn27:4.13
- sharadov 6y ago
  "There is no evidence in the Rigveda for an elaborate, much-subdivided and overarching caste system". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caste_system_in_India https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caste_system_in_India
  - ma2rten 6y ago
    I'm certainly not an expert in Indian history, but it seems that there was a caste system 500 BC with four castes which people were born into. Is there evidence that people were able to move between castes before that time?

therealdrag0 6y ago

Another one but with Ezra Klein hosting: https://www.vox.com/2020/8/25/21399479/caste-the-warmth-of-other-suns-isabel-wilkerson-the-ezra-klein-show-race https://www.vox.com/2020/8/25/21399479/caste-the-warmth-of-o...