Why West? By Daniel Cohen: Summary
Daniel Cohen divides his book in 3 main parts, each dealing with a general notion and period, and composed of several subparts more specified. In the introduction, Cohen starts by dressing a general timeline and capture of the world. He raises thought provoking questions that he will try to answer.
In his first part, called “Why West ?”, Cohen tries to bring an answer to such a controversial question. Firstly, he reminds the genesis of the economy : the birth of agriculture, the regroupment of humans into cities, and the “tyranny of productivity” (search for better technology) that ruled the world long time before the Industrial Revolution. Moreover, Cohen isn’t naive and remains objective : nothing was miraculous about Europe and no particular …show more content…
You don’t feel well after reading it, especially with the huge amount of interrogation/datas that he uses. The ecologic krach may be the most catching part, in so far as everyone can feel concerned whatever their origins, economic or political situation. Along the reading, we see that the world has been ruled by the prosperity of vice. The vice is everywhere. For instance, Cohen explains that we used to live better in Europe than in Japan because Europeans were dirtier, hence more likely to die, hence higher revenue/per capita. The vice was an important component of the Malthusian law, but remains present even after it got broken. Prosperity in Europe is linked with the use of slavery and this eternal competition between European powers, that would finally lead to the first world war. Prosperity and vice seems …show more content…
Everything is linked, and for example, philosophy, science and economy are not three entities following their own path. So many examples are provided, but to give one, what contributed to the rise of Europe : religion giving a new value to work (religion and philosophy) combined with rivalry between powers (politics) will push them in a successful race for productivity, innovation and consequently, growth (economy). We understand how the multi-subject approach is essentiel to give meaning to the economic past of the
In his first part, called “Why West ?”, Cohen tries to bring an answer to such a controversial question. Firstly, he reminds the genesis of the economy : the birth of agriculture, the regroupment of humans into cities, and the “tyranny of productivity” (search for better technology) that ruled the world long time before the Industrial Revolution. Moreover, Cohen isn’t naive and remains objective : nothing was miraculous about Europe and no particular …show more content…
You don’t feel well after reading it, especially with the huge amount of interrogation/datas that he uses. The ecologic krach may be the most catching part, in so far as everyone can feel concerned whatever their origins, economic or political situation. Along the reading, we see that the world has been ruled by the prosperity of vice. The vice is everywhere. For instance, Cohen explains that we used to live better in Europe than in Japan because Europeans were dirtier, hence more likely to die, hence higher revenue/per capita. The vice was an important component of the Malthusian law, but remains present even after it got broken. Prosperity in Europe is linked with the use of slavery and this eternal competition between European powers, that would finally lead to the first world war. Prosperity and vice seems …show more content…
Everything is linked, and for example, philosophy, science and economy are not three entities following their own path. So many examples are provided, but to give one, what contributed to the rise of Europe : religion giving a new value to work (religion and philosophy) combined with rivalry between powers (politics) will push them in a successful race for productivity, innovation and consequently, growth (economy). We understand how the multi-subject approach is essentiel to give meaning to the economic past of the