|
|
|
|
|
|
Resources |
|
|
|
Opposing Anti-Traditionalism
| Article
# : |
16163 |
|
|
Section : |
CURRENT ISSUES
|
| Issue
Date : |
6 / 1989 |
2,847 Words |
| Author
: |
Zhongguo Quingnian Bao
|
"Anti-traditionalism" is a major current of thought. It has permeated scholarly and intellectual circles in China and penetrated into every corner of society. It would seem to be time to take a look into its true nature.
Tradition is not hereditary. It is a cultural phenomenon, a social phenomenon. It consists of concepts, systems, patterns of behavior that have been passed on from the past to the present. Tradition has gone through quite a long period of refining and perfecting. It has gradually become more uniform and assumed a definitive form. It has gradually spread to include the majority of the members of society and thus has achieved a wide distribution. It has come to transcend the characters of individuals and has become social in nature. In the course of becoming systematized and passed on it has come to assume a sacrosanct quality. However, at the same time it has continued to retain the most basic characteristic of culture--plasticity, the capability of being remolded. The behavior of animals is controlled by their intrinsic capabilities (in the biological order) while human behavior is restrained by tradition (some definite sort of culture). Animal behavior never goes beyond its set limits and its ingrained patterns cannot be adapted in response to change. It is precisely because the culture and traditions of man are susceptible to change that the human race is continually developing innovations, is always moving on into "new worlds."
Don't blame tradition
To take all the mistakes and faults of people of the present time--all sorts of faults in system, flaws in ideological style, and even wrong-headed policies--and blame
... (1996 of 16804 Characters)
Read Full Article
|
|
