You can ask it if you want, but since the answer won’t do anything to change the existence or character of time, the better question is how to economize time or what to do with your time.
Good luck in your quest to become an acultural individual.
If that were my intention, why do you think it is a “quest”?
I always love it when “Libertarians” try to run other people’s lives.
A culture is just a way of life, a set of shared beliefs, ideas, habits, rituals &c., and as others have noted, is inevitable from the minute one participates in society as any form of interaction will be of some shape or other. Any culture that promulgates the harm of others, either within it or outwith, could be said to be bad, I suppose. The same goes with one that promotes blind obedience and the suppression of free thought. On the other hand, a culture that is based on a strong work ethic, freedom of expression &c. seems to be better. Different people have different values, which will lead to different cultures, even if some share certain elements with other (e.g. there are a variety of potential cultures consistent with the NAP.)
-Jon
I think that culture, as we know it, is a manifestation of groupism. However, I do think there could be something called a “culture” which would form in a freer, more individualistic society. Even today we have a libertarian culture, although it is reactive against statism, it still exists. I think culture is a naturally-forming association that has been perverted by the state. We’er not going to get rid of it. Mao killed millions trying to destroy culture, that didn’t work out too well.
If Mao understood what culture was he would realize that he was simply giving birth to a retarded and undeveloped culture, not some evolution of the concept.
A free exchange of ideas that naturally occurs with trade and communication, which puts in place a natural survival of the fittest in cultures (“bad” cultural elements ((Women should not participate in the life of community beyond cooking and cleaning)) tends to be adopted less by individuals, hence it slowly dies out) is the ultimate protection from statism, that indeed we might try and have a cultural firewall against the worlds most virulent meme virus.
Basic agreement. Just that Robinson Crusoe had already a kind of culture before Friday arrived. With Friday he only became aware that there are cultural differences.
Another important question would be: What causes culture, what makes it what it is?
I’d also like to formulate a thesis. That culture (as emerging from civil society) is actually more potent then official government (the political society or apparatus). Or in other terms: Peoples behavior is regulated by the culture and preferences rather then by legislation and force.
I’m inclined to agree. Your thesis’ implications be taken as a condemnation of culture or of statism. I would say both.
That being said of course there will always be some forms of culture, but hopefully they’ll start to evolve into a less destructive direction.
I second that I have been told this, many times.