Are civilizations civil enough?
Is Civilization defined by inventions & discoveries (to make human life better) or Is Society considered Civilized if it is run by its inhabitants with a common set of values. Who defines these values and will they ever be common ?
Values and Ethics have always differed over centuries and are still varied between different cultures
Roman & Greek Culture: This was supposedly the most civilized culture of ancient days. They are defined by all the great inventions & discoveries(Euclid, Pythagoras, Archimedes), Philosophy (Plato, Socrates etc) , townships, democracy, Art (naked statues) & literature.
But this is the same culture that was based on slave trade. Debauchery & Gluttony was the norm. Gladiator Fights and most unimaginable types of torture and capital punishment was the accepted way. We have chosen to ignore all that — saying different times, different yardstick
Asian Culture
Indian: Indian philosophy — Vedas, art, music, value system was mingled with its own version of slavery in the name of casteism & untouchability. depending on which part of the Indian culture one is exposed — dowry, sati, honor killing (Khap panchayat) female infanticide still exists. Abject poverty is treated with absolute apathy by the majority of the population
Chinese/Oriental: Highly evolved Art, Music, Travelogues and inventions (paper etc.) — But absolute oppression of the lower class to the point that people ended up eating everything under the sun.
A loosely translated Cantonese famous saying is — “Any animal whose back faces the sun can be eaten”
The Arab (including Egypt) World: None can match their sense of Music, science (Astronomy & Science) , Culture & Entrepreneurship .. But their view of women and how low they think of non-Muslims hasn’t changed for centuries.
African Culture: A large part of that culture has been erased due to slavery, diamond (and other element) minig, internal strife and poverty. But the re-emergence of the African Culture over the last 50 years, speaks volumes of their resilience and strength. Is strength and resilience a measure of a civilized society ?
South American Culture : Total systematic genocide of the Aztecs & Mayans by the Spaniards, that has successfully made them civilized by Catholicizing them ?
The Modern World (influenced heavily by the Western World — USA/Europe): There is a clear distinction of who are the evolved ones and who are civilized. The term used is — Developed Vs Developing Vs Under-Developed Countries. It’s the same western culture that did the Crusades to civilize the Native Aboriginals (Australia), Maoris (New Zealand), Red-Indian (USA). Then there was the infamous King Leopold II of Belgium who is responsible for 10–15 million deaths & another 10 million mutilations (Arms & legs) in Congo, the genocides in all the Polynesian islands (Hawaii, Fiji, Haiti etc.) to make them civilized — remember “God’s Must be Crazy” Movie.
A highly evolved and civilized USA & Europe managed the most notorious Abu Ghraib Prison in Iraq (Supposedly the worst torture prison in the world)
Or maybe it’s a country like Bhutan which is the most civilized: It measures itself on a scale of GNH (Gross National Happiness) and not on the scale of GDP. They are considered the happiest country in the world but barely have electricity in most places, no signal lights (a cop still directs traffic) & is considered one of the most poorest country (13% poverty) and a developing country in the world !