Is Culture Always Logical or Is Logic Always

Is Culture Always Logical or Is Logic Always Cultural ? by Leif Thomas Olsen

…clipping from the Far Eastern Economic Review (14/09/2000) “INDIAN LOGIC: A high court in India ruled that a bank must consider employing a young woman on the grounds that she had already suffered bad luck. Sixteen years ago, when Ramya Murthy was a baby, her mother Geetha was burned to death by her father, G. D. Narashima Murthy. At the time of her death, the mother had been employed by Syndicate Bank of Bangalore, The Asian Age reported. ” “Ramya, who has just turned 18, applied to the courts to force the bank to give her a job on compassionate grounds because such an awful thing had happened to her in the past. Justice H. L. Dattu ordered the bank to process the application. This is typical Indian anti-logic. It makes no sense, but feels right. ”

Culture as a Phenomenon?

Robert Keel (2000): Culture is the totality of learned, socially transmitted behaviour. It is the product of both material and nonmaterial interaction, i. e. , beliefs, values, ideas, norms, and so on. It is shared, learned and intergenerational

Harry Triandis (1994): Cultures are like standard operating procedures. . . ways of doing things that have been internalised to such an extent that people do not argue about them

So, how can we best appreciate our fellow humans’ cultures?

Harry Triandis again: Culturally derived differences are caused by differences in our ‘unstated assumptions’

Harry Triandis again: Culturally derived differences are caused by differences in our ‘unstated assumptions’ But how can that piece of insight help us overcome these differences?

One Way Is ‘Acculturation’

Acculturation: The process of assimilating new ideas into an existing ‘cognitive structure’ … … i. e. the adoption of the behavior patterns of a surrounding culture into one’s existing culture

Acculturation: The process of assimilating new ideas into an existing ‘cognitive structure’ … … i. e. the adoption of the behavior patterns of a surrounding culture into one’s existing culture The typical claim is that the Coca Cola culture overruns indigenous cultures. But acculturation is not always a matter of non-westerners adopting western ideas. Historically there are many examples of the opposite.

Cultural Influences on the West Sinology on the Enlightenment Indiology on Romanticism Orientalism on Colonialism The Rest on the West Tao, Zen, Hinduism on the Hippies Buddhism on Feminism

Example: Sinology & the Enlightenment The French philosopher Quesnay translated the Taoist concept of “wu-wei” to French, and called it “laissezfair”. Wu-wei and laissez-fair both suggest that governments should not interfere with the “natural order” of things. Quesnay’s disciple, Adam Smith, was much influenced by the laissez-fair concept when developing his ideas about the “invisible hand” - in turn a cornerstone for his “free market” theories.

Another Way Is Simply To Learn More About Other Cultures

Another Way Is Simply To Learn More About Other Cultures Can Everyday Logic be a Cultural Identifier?

‘Logical Reasoning’ Deduction versus Analytical Induction or How all cultures develop their own logic

Deduction vs Induction Where deductive research narrows its claims to what can be proven beyond doubt, analytical induction widens its claims to include also diverting outcomes of similar cases Deductive approach Inductive approach

Deduction A researcher using a deductive method will start out from a hypothesis, try to exclude all uncertainty, and claim that was repeatedly found equals ‘the truth’

Analytical Induction A researcher using analytical induction will start out from one observation, compare this observation to other - albeit similar - cases, and seek to define which ‘outer perimeter’ can include as many as possible of the cases studied

Coming back to good ol’ “the West and the Rest”

Coming back to good ol’ “the West and the Rest” A core issue of the Enlightenment - on which Positivism and Modernity rests - was the use of ‘reason’, i. e. the ability to form opinions and draw conclusions from facts.

Coming back to good ol’ “the West and the Rest” A core issue of the Enlightenment - on which Positivism and Modernity rests - was the use of ‘reason’, i. e. the ability to form opinions and draw conclusions from facts. But can we always distinguish facts from opinions?

Reason, Induction & Premises “Reason is merely an instrument which, correctly employed, helps people draw inferences (conclusions) from given premises without inconsistency. ” (from ‘The Meaning of Things’ by AC Grayling)

Reason, Induction & Premises “Reason is merely an instrument which, correctly employed, helps people draw inferences (conclusions) from given premises without inconsistency. ” (from ‘The Meaning of Things’ by AC Grayling) “Granted the premises, the logic is inescapable” (from Cultural Anthropology, Cultural Relativism and Cultural Values by Melville Herskovits)

Reason, Induction & Logic Western logic is based on ‘positivism’, to which concepts like evidence, accountability and transparency are the keys This logic hence assumes a deductive approach

Reason, Induction & Logic Western logic is based on ‘positivism’, to which concepts like evidence, accountability and transparency are the keys This logic hence assumes a deductive approach Non-western logic is based on ‘wisdom’, to which concepts like tradition, experience and empiricism are the keys This logic hence assumes an inductive approach

Reason, Induction & Research Deductive research gave us penicillin & computer networks Analytical induction gave us acupuncture & social networks

Reason, Induction & Research Deductive research gave us penicillin & computer networks Analytical induction gave us acupuncture & social networks The world needs both computer networks & social networks The world needs both deductive & inductive thinking

Reason, Induction & Politics Western democracy is based on well articulated arguments that actually intend to ‘discriminate’ within the framework of a multi-party system

Reason, Induction & Politics Western democracy is based on well articulated arguments that actually intend to ‘discriminate’ within the framework of a multi-party system Non-western democracy is based on populist rhetoric that actually intends to include as many views as possible, within the framework of a consensus-driven system

So, What Is the Conclusion of All This ?

Everyday Logic Observation + Premise = Conclusion

Everyday Logic Observation + Premise = Conclusion But what about Socrates? Wasn’t he the one who started this debate?

Syllogisms A reasoned argument where two statements inevitably will lead to a third Example: - All men will one day die (premise) - Socrates is a man (observation) - therefore one day Socrates will die (conclusion).

A Typical East / West Difference “I think my boss is wrong (observation). Should I tell him during the office meeting? ”

A Typical East / West Difference “I think my boss is wrong (observation). Should I tell him during the office meeting? ” In the “West” He may have overlooked this important piece of information (premise 1), and I think he appreciates initiatives from his staff (premise 2).

A Typical East / West Difference “I think my boss is wrong (observation). Should I tell him during the office meeting? ” In the “West” He may have overlooked this important piece of information (premise 1), and I think he appreciates initiatives from his staff (premise 2). In the “East” He is after all my senior, whom one shall not directly criticise (premise 1), and if I make him ‘lose face’, he may also suffer part of his authority (premise 2).

A Typical East / West Difference “I think my boss is wrong (observation). Should I tell him during the office meeting? ” In the “East” In the “West” He may have overlooked this important piece of information (premise 1), and I think he appreciates initiatives from his staff (premise 2). “Yes, I had better” He is after all my senior, whom one shall not directly criticise (premise 1), and if I make him ‘lose face’, he may also suffer part of his authority (premise 2). (conclusion) “No, I had better not”

Logic vs Acculturation: If every observation must be compared to a premise before a logical conclusion can be made, is acculturation then not mainly a matter of sharing premises?

Is Acculturation a Deductive or Inductive Process?

In the Global Community … If a ‘free and democratic world’ is the objective, should not all peoples have the right to live by their own chosen culture – as long as it does not harm others ? Anybody interested in bi- or multilateral interaction must in such case respect local cultures - no matter how different.

In the Global Community … If a ‘free and democratic world’ is the objective, should not all peoples have the right to live by their own chosen culture – as long as it does not harm others ? Anybody interested in bi- or multilateral interaction must in such case respect local cultures - no matter how different. Acculturation is here primarily an inductive process, and its suggested alternative – to learn more about others rather than teaching others about oneself – may indeed prove to be the best way forward.

In Corporate Life Though … HQ’s corporate culture always permeate overall decision making, as well as reward- and promotion policy, even in culturally distant markets – in the name of control and profit maximation.

In Corporate Life Though … HQ’s corporate culture always permeate overall decision making, as well as reward- and promotion policy, even in culturally distant markets – in the name of control and profit maximation. Acculturation will here be a more deductive process, where sharing the ‘HQ culture’ and its ‘underlying assumptions’ with subsidiary employees is crucial - for them to choose to what extent they wish to acculturate, and in turn excel in, that particular culture.

But, Has the World a HQ ? In the bi-polar world both Super Powers agreed the world needed a few joint working groups. But the UN was never meant to be a World Inc. HQ - although Bretton Woods certainly viewed itself as the Almighty in its domain. Has a ‘HQ approach’ arrived with the mono-polar world ?

But, Has the World a HQ ? In the bi-polar world both Super Powers agreed the world needed a few joint working groups. But the UN was never meant to be a World Inc. HQ - although Bretton Woods certainly viewed itself as the Almighty in its domain. Has a ‘HQ approach’ arrived with the mono-polar world ? Acculturation in today’s world – does it presuppose we all have to acculturate some HQ’s culture and its underlying assumptions? Recent ‘lessons’ taught in democracy and good governance suggests this would be highly deductive.

Now, Assume the World Had a HQ … … and the World thought the boss was wrong. Should the World tell him during an office meeting ? End Part 1

The Premise Component If the Premise Component is so critical, how can it be negotiated, so that opposing cultures eventually can agree on global issues ?

The Premise Component If the Premise Component is so critical, how can it be negotiated, so that opposing cultures eventually can agree on global issues ? The Full Formula for Cultural Behavior intends to suggest how to put this component into context.

The Full Formula for Cultural Behaviour From "Traffic - A Book About Culture" Social Level: + Cultural Values + Environment = Cultural Application Empirical Level: + Cultural Application + Experience = Cultural Premise Logical Level: Action Level: + Observations + Cultural Premise = Cultural Conclusion + Resources + Resolve = Cultural Behaviour

Let’s focus on the Social Level Political, economic and ethnological differences apart, how can societies be broadly classified ?

The Class Society: A society whose leaders use 'values' to govern Traditional Slow In change Segregated Society driven Low need for control

The Power Society: A society whose leaders use 'power' to govern Short on history Intermittent pace of change Elite-oriented Power driven High need for control

The Debate Society: A society whose leaders use 'opinions' to govern Without history Constant change Interest group based Admin driven Difficult to control

The Big Pond: An opportunistic society Anonymous Stardom-oriented Short turnover time Media-driven Tolerant Open – but hard to conquer

The Small Pond: A diligent society Seniority-based Mentorship-oriented Long turnover time Network-driven Intolerant Closed - but possible to conquer

Empirical and Action Levels … Adding Experiences to the Social Level will lead to the Empirical Level, and from the Logical Level we will arrive at the Action Level once Resources and Resolve are added. / Leif Thomas Olsen