American-values

1、2021/6/71 American Values In a society as highly diverse as the United States, there is likely to be a multitude of answers. However, a few selected values are at the core of American values. 2021/6/72 American culture has been enriched by the values and belief systems of virtually every part of the

2、 world. Consequently, it is impossible to be comprehensive. 2021/6/73 Cultural pluralism nFrom the beginning of the history of the United states, there has been diversity Native Americans throughout the North American continent, Spanish settlers in the Southwest in Florida, French missionaries and f

3、ur traders along the Mississippi River, black slaves brought from African countries, Dutch settlers in New York, Germans in Pennsylvania 2021/6/74 Cultural pluralism nAnd, of course, the British colonist, whose culture eventually provided the language and the foundation for the political and economi

4、c systems that developed in the United States. 2021/6/75 The Declaration of Independence n“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”

5、. 2021/6/76 Individual Freedom nThis is probably the most basic of all the American values. nBy limiting the power of the government and the churches and eliminating a formal aristocracy, the first settlers created a climate of freedom where emphasis was on the individual. nBy freedom, Americans mea

6、n the desire and the ability to of all individuals to control their own destiny without outside interference from the government, a ruling noble class, the church, or any other organized authority. 2021/6/77 Individual Freedom nScholars and outside observers often call this value individualism, but

7、many Americans use the word freedom. 2021/6/78 Self-Reliance nThere is, however, a price to be paid for this individual freedom: self-reliance. nIndividuals must learn to rely on themselves or risk losing freedom. This means achieving both financial and emotional independence as early as possible. n

8、It means that Americans believe they should take care of themselves, solve their own problems, and “stand on their own two feet” 2021/6/79 Self-Reliance nMost Americans believe that they must be self-reliant in order to keep their freedom. If they rely too much on the support of their families or th

9、e government or any organization, they may lose some of their freedom to do what they want. 2021/6/710 Self Reliance n“They own nothing to any man, they expect nothing from any man; they acquire the habit of always considering themselves as standing alone, and they are apt to imagine that their whol

10、e destiny is in their own hand” said by De Tocqueville. nDe Tocqueville: (1805-1859) French liberal statesman and political writer. His Democracy in America, a classic in American studies , is a penetrating study of American society and politics and an indirect lesson to nations striving for democra

11、cy. 2021/6/711 Equality of Opportunity nThey do not mean that everyone is or should be equal. They do mean that each individual should have an equal chance for success. n Americans see much of life as a race for success. Equality of opportunity may be thought of as an ethical rule. It helps ensure t

12、hat the race for success is a fair one that person does not win just because he or she was born into a wealthy family, or lose because of race or religion. nThis American concept of “fair play” is an important aspect of the belief in equality of opportunity. 2021/6/712 Equality of Opportunity nPresi

13、dent Abraham Lincoln expressed this belief in the 1860s when he said: “we wish to allow the humblest man an equal chance to get rich with everybody else. When one starts poor, as most do in the race of life, free society is such that he knows that he can better his condition; he knows that there is

14、no fixed condition of labor for his whole life.” 2021/6/713 competition nIf much of life is seen as a race, then a person must run the race in order to succeed; a person must compete with others. nIf every person has an equal chance to succeed in the United States, then it is every persons duty to t

15、ry. Americans match their energy and intelligence against that of others in a competitive contest for success. n“Winner” and “loser” nThe pressure to compete causes Americans to be energetic, but it also places a constant emotional strain on them. 2021/6/714 Material Wealth nThe United States appear

16、ed to be a “land of plenty” where millions come to seek their fortunes. The phrase “going from rags to riches” become a slogan for the great American Dream. nPlacing a high value on material possessions is called materialism, but this is a word that most Americans find offensive. nThe material wealt

17、h has traditionally been a widely accepted measure of social status in the United States. Because Americans rejected the Europeans system of hereditary aristocracy and titles of nobility, they had to find substitute for judging social status. 2021/6/715 Hard work and Determination nThe price paid fo

18、r material wealth is hard work. Only by hard work, could they convert natural resources into material possessions, allowing a more comfortable standard of living. Hard work has been both necessary and rewarding for most Americans throughout their history. 2021/6/716 Hard work and Determination nAs t

19、he United States has shifted form an industry-based economy to one that is service or information-based, there has been a decline in high-paying jobs for factory workers. Its now much more difficulty for the average worker to go from “rags to riches” in the United State, and many wonder what has hap

20、pened to the traditional “American Dream”. 2021/6/717 Creativity and Inventiveness nAn individual should always experiment and try new things. To succeed (in whatever it is you want to do in life), you have to be willing to take risks, make mistakes, and learn from your mistakes to do better in the

21、future. n每個人總是樂於嘗試 新事物。為了成功 (無論你對成功的定 義是什麼)你總是願 意冒險、犯錯並且從 失敗中吸取教訓 , 以 便未來能做得更好。 2021/6/718 Family nLove, protect, and appreciate your family n愛、保護和對家人的 感激 2021/6/719 Generosity nYou should help others and be kind to others. Treat others the way you want to be treated. 你應該幫助別人並且善 待别人。你希望別人 怎麼對待你，你就應

22、該這樣對待他人. 2021/6/720 Summary of Value Changes nThe concept of duty. Less value placed on what one owes to others as a matter of moral obligation nSocial conformity. Less value placed on keeping up with the Joneses. nRespectability. Less value placed on symbols of correct behavior for a person of a pa

23、rticular social class. nSocial morality. Less value placed on observing societys rules. npluralism. Greater acceptance of difference in ethnicity and life-style. 2021/6/721 Summary of Value Changes nSacrifice. Less value placed on sacrifice as a moral good, replaced by more pragmatic criteria of whe

24、n sacrifice is or is not called for. nExpressiveness. A high value placed on forms of choice and individualism that express ones unique inner nature. nThe environment . Greater value placed on respecting and preserving nature and the natural resources. nTechnology. Greater value placed on technologi

25、cal solutions to a vast array of problems and challenges. 2021/6/722 Summary of Value Changes nSexuality. Less moral value placed on “correct” sexual behavior; a loosening of some but not all norms of sexual morality. nPleasure. Less Puritanism about pleasure, especially bodily pleasures; pleasures regarded as a good. nFamily. A high value placed on family life, but with a vastly expanded concept of family beyond the traditional nuclear form. nHusband-wife relationships. A far-reaching shift from role b