Social Darwinism
Mirror Sites:
CSUDH - Habermas - UWP

California State University, Dominguez Hills
University of Wisconsin, Parkside
Soka University Japan, Transcend Art and Peace
Created: November 9, 2001
Latest Update: November 9, 2001
jeannecurran@habermas.org
takata@uwp.edu
Olivier Urbain, Soka University

Reactions in this file are based on Edward Said's article the Clash of Ignorance and Edward Said's interpretation of Jane Austen's Mansfield Park.

On Friday, November 2, 2001, Tranell Colquitt wrote:

Subject: The Clash Of Ignorance 1 (SOC)

Said stated, "It is my hypothesis that the fundamental source of conflict in this new world will not be primarily ideological or primarily economic. The great divisions among human kind and the dominating source of conflict will be cultural." I agree with him. Ever since Sept 11th cultures seem to have attacked other cultures whether it be verbally or physically. Do you think we will ever recover from this tragedy?

On Friday, November 9, 2001, jeanne responded:

Tranell, good selection of quote from the article. What you need to do now is to build an argument for why you believe Said to be right. The only explanation you've given is that that's the way it's been since September 11.

You need to show by your conclusion that you understand how what Said concludes in the Clash of Ignorance relates to the theoretical concepts we have been studying and discussing in the sociology of law class.

For example, you should explain what you think Said means by that sentence. I had trouble with it. I'm not completely sure I understand how he see the ideological and economic arguments as separate from the cultural argument. Why do you think culture is the most important perspective. Why not democracy and freedom? President Bush keeps reminding us that this war is about freedom. Is freedom culture? Or is it democracy? Or is it access to economic resources?

And if this is a clash of culture, does that mean that the market and the commodification of culture have essentially won? Does our law follow culture? And which law?

Relevant References: The following references go the to the Metaphorical Society.

• The Blind Men and the Elephant: A Hindu fable by John Godfrey Saxe
• The Blind Men and the Elephant Compare the images.
• The Parable of the Blind Men and the Elephant Same image at The Blind Men and the Elephant Notice how switching backgrouind colors switches the feeling. Consider the Presentation of Self in Everyday Life, Goffman.
• Teaching with the Blind Men and the Elephant Well-designed site for explanations and questions for teaching young people.
• The Blind Men and the Elephant This file is illustrated by photos where the elephant's leg really does look like a tree! Notice that the file is on a government genome site!

• The Blind Men, The Elephant, and Concurrent Engineering With Apologies to John Godfrey Saxe (1816 - 1887). Modification by Gretchen L. Van Meer. Worth reading. A rephrasing of the poem. No images.

• The Blind men and the Elephant "Note: The Blind Men and the Elephant occurs in the Udana, a Canonical Hindu Scripture." Identified the source! That warmed the cockles of my heart. jeanne

• Ramkali, My Elephant By Geeta Khadka, of Nepal. A narrative that gives a much better sense of the Other. And suitable for children.

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