Regarding the article that prompted debate on the role of Daoism as a philosophy for the future (Jan 6, "Daoism: the philosophy for the future" by Chung Min-uck), a critical review of Professor Choi Jin-seok's arguments remains unavoidable.
Professor Choi argues that people still hold onto the old mindset of collectivism; but is that so? Although Korean society and neighboring Asian states may display such collectivism, the European continent and Latin America show little sign of this.
The Middle East, on the other hand, may seem it embraces complete collectivism; but its tendency to pursue "collective identity" through Islam differs from experiencing "collective uniformity" spurred on by the Industrial Revolution. Not to further mention the African continent and Oceania, the professor's diagnosis of societal behavior requires further scrutiny.
More puzzling is his contention that accepting the order of the universe or the "constant change" in his words leads men to "think highly of individual values embedded within people." Western individualism is already playing such a role; the world does not call for, at least not the Western hemisphere, a renewed focus on each individuality as Daoists maintain.
Moreover, Psy's "Gangnam Style" does not represent a person's growing "independence and subjectivity"; the record hit is filled with clearly over-the-line offensive gestures. Its artistic values are seriously challenged by critics across the globe, and the song is just a Korean's foul adaptation of American crude humor. The exceptional popularity with the public does not necessarily indicate the song's ingenuity; nor does it illustrate the singer's characteristic independence and subjectivity.
Choi Si-young
Editing adviser
Yonsei European Studies at Yonsei University, Seoul
Professor Choi argues that people still hold onto the old mindset of collectivism; but is that so? Although Korean society and neighboring Asian states may display such collectivism, the European continent and Latin America show little sign of this.
The Middle East, on the other hand, may seem it embraces complete collectivism; but its tendency to pursue "collective identity" through Islam differs from experiencing "collective uniformity" spurred on by the Industrial Revolution. Not to further mention the African continent and Oceania, the professor's diagnosis of societal behavior requires further scrutiny.
More puzzling is his contention that accepting the order of the universe or the "constant change" in his words leads men to "think highly of individual values embedded within people." Western individualism is already playing such a role; the world does not call for, at least not the Western hemisphere, a renewed focus on each individuality as Daoists maintain.
Moreover, Psy's "Gangnam Style" does not represent a person's growing "independence and subjectivity"; the record hit is filled with clearly over-the-line offensive gestures. Its artistic values are seriously challenged by critics across the globe, and the song is just a Korean's foul adaptation of American crude humor. The exceptional popularity with the public does not necessarily indicate the song's ingenuity; nor does it illustrate the singer's characteristic independence and subjectivity.
Choi Si-young
Editing adviser
Yonsei European Studies at Yonsei University, Seoul
