Comments on: Particularism “from the soil”

By: Jason Patent

Jason Patent — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 00:21:44 +0000

I like that, Alex. Yet another reminder that there’s nothing inherently “foreign” about many of the ideas we’ve been discussing; they just show up in different configurations and different versions across cultures.

By: Alex LaBrunerie

Alex LaBrunerie — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 23:26:23 +0000

Hi Jason, Your “fine line” comment reminded me of the morale choices characters face in the film genre of Film Noir; classics like Chinatown and Double Indemnity as examples

By: Jason Patent

Jason Patent — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 02:30:43 +0000

Great question. I don’t know what the nearest equivalent would be, but I’m pretty sure it would be missing the religious undertones of the American term. Lots to say about American “civil religion” in the context of our expectations of human life. Will get into this – probably soon – in later posts.

By: ZH

ZH — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 06:24:29 +0000

Is there a Chinese expression — or concept, or notion — equivalent to “sell one’s soul”? If most Chinese don’t hold absolutest moral positions, then what is there to sell?