Is China is a Civilization?

[Jethro Tull]

I vote 'no'.

[Jack]

Define 'civilization'. Why don't you think China is a civilization?

[Awar]

Yes, China is a civilization, has been that longer than Europe ( save for the Balkans ).

[Louky]

I read years ago that the criteria for civilization is (1) architecture (2) written language, and (3) laws. China meets those criteria.

[Stríbog]

Anyone who votes no is himself uncivilized. China has accomplished more than most European countries.

[Nordhammer]

Anyone who votes no is himself uncivilized. China has accomplished more than most European countries.

Such is the reason so many Chinese are killing themselves to get into these less civilized European countries.

Why don't you move to China and tell us how life is?

[Stríbog]

Such is the reason so many Chinese are killing themselves to get into these less civilized European countries.

Why don't you move to China and tell us how life is?

They come to America and Europe because they know they can make money with their academic training and skills, not because they consider it to be a higher civilization than their own. Europeans came to the unknown American and African continents to make their fortunes; I doubt they believed these places to have higher civilizations than Europe.

[Nordhammer]

They come to America and Europe because they know they can make money with their academic training and skills, not because they consider it to be a higher civilization than their own. Europeans came to the unknown American and African continents to make their fortunes; I doubt they believed these places to have higher civilizations than Europe.

It's true, they come to make more money. But why? Their country is both oppressive and overpopulated. They can make 10x or more in the same amount of time here what they would make there.

They aren't filling up Africa. I don't have statistics on how many are going to South America and Southern European, but without a doubt the majority migrate to America, Canada, Northern Europe, and Australia. A lot of that has to do with a better civilization, a higher standard of living, and ability to make more money is part of that.

[cosmocreator]

Some Chinese leave Canada (but keep dual citizenships) to go back to Hong Kong. They can make more money there.

[Taras Bulba]

I voted yes. One only has to think of their philosophers like Confucious, Lao Tzu, Mencius, and others to see their accomplishment in terms of intellectual thinking.

However, I hate these arguments made today by scholars about the origins of philosophy as being in the East and somehow made their way west through trade routes. Like I said in another thread about how everything of value came from Asia. Bullsh*t! I say Eastern philosophy originated in Asia and Western philosophy originated in Europe.