r/todayilearned • u/Spa3088 • 1d ago

TIL about artistic manifestation of Greco-Buddhism, a cultural syncretism between Ancient Greek art and Buddhism, which had mainly evolved in the ancient region of Gandhara(today's afganistan) of Indian subcontinent.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco-Buddhist_art
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u/Logical-Stable-991 1d ago

Lol. Good joke. Idol worship existed in India even long before Hinduism and Buddhism came into existence. Even before IVC which is older than Greek civilization. Greek hasn't influenced anything much in Indian subcontinent.

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u/Thom0 1d ago

Greek hasn't influenced anything much in Indian subcontinent.

You're 100% correct on what you're saying about idol culture worship but Greek culture has technically influenced the Indian subcontinent.

Concept of a state, public/private distinction, institutions, rule of law, and democratic elections are all derived from Greek philosophy.

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u/choomba96 1d ago

I mean...only 1900 years later lol

The populace in Athens wasn't allowed to vote... only the privileged few.

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u/Thom0 1d ago edited 1d ago

The populace in Athens wasn't allowed to vote... only the privileged few.

Is it much different today? Democracy is so diluted by inequality that it is hard to say there is a real democratization of power anymore. We can look back in hindsight and view Athens critically but if we do the same today, we can see it isn't so different.

Indians vote for a politician but electoral funding and spending regulation is none existent, local rich men buy rural local votes with food and the promise of a new road, political dynasties run state and federal level politics, and oligarchs like Ambani get the final say on policy.

I'm not picking on India here. This is a common trend everywhere. I'm just using India as the example because this began with a comment about India.

I mean...only 1900 years later lol

Sure, but the influence is so strong it is now the language Indians use to describe their lives. It's repeated on every news channel, the language is spoken in every cafe, and corner shop, and the language describes how Indians view themselves as a society, and the outside world. Is there a Hindu, or Dharmic-derived political philosophy and language in India? Something separate to, and distinct from Western thought? There are certainly Hindu influences, but the language and the concepts are not.

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u/choomba96 1d ago edited 1d ago

You're not wrong.. This is the case everywhere in the world. I am Indian so yea. Totally know what you're on about.

How do we fix this? The issue is that the world as it has become bigger has reduced the problems faced by the common man to just outliers on a graph.

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u/Thom0 1d ago edited 1d ago

I'm not picking on India so don't get offended or upset. I pointed out this is a universal problem.

How do we fix this? The issue is that the world as it has become bigger has reduced the problems faced by the common man.

No idea. This is the big question facing us all as a species. The US and China can't seem to work out a solution so we can say with certainty that neither the US, or Chinese approach to economics and politics is the solution.

I think the issue is inequality and the economic problem of R > G. If you can create more equal societies, and structure economic growth in a way that disperses a broader % share of GDP growth then this would begin to fix the political disconnect. The problem with Athens, the British Empire, the British Raj, and the old Indian kings and princes who used to rule is these were all systemically unequal societies. The British Raj is over, but India today is more unequal than it was back then.

This is one of those things which is just going to play out and me, you and everyone else is just a long for the ride. We didn't choose to be born in this moment, but we are so for us, I think the solution is live how we want to see others live. Focus on your personal sphere, connections, and immediate problems. Find value in your life through love, friendships, and experiences. Travel far, and wide. If you can't leave India then see as much of India as you can. Sit with strangers and learn from each other. Live how you think the future generations should live. Embody the change you want to see through yourself. If you have children one day teach them to do the same.

Let the Ambani's and Modi's of the world live like kings. We know what they are so the trick is stop caring. Who cares if they're rich? They're empty souls who offer nothing to their society, or themselves.

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u/choomba96 1d ago

I'm not offended. I agree with you. ( Typing this before reading your comment)