Discussion Questions

  1. Damasio’s thesis is that culture is a regulator of human life and identity. Give examples of what  culture provides to its members?  What is not a product of culture?
  2. Cannadine posits six forms of regulators of human life and identity.  Which have been major sources of conflict?  How can that conflict be explained?
  3. Why do you believe social class differences, ethnic identity, and skin color are  uncomfortable for many people in the United States to discuss?
  4. One study found that interactions between ethnically dissimilar people were judged to be relatively superficial encounters.  The researchers concluded that communicators were trying to insure that the interaction was harmonious.  What do you believe could explain this?
  5. Address the two questions presented in this chapter:  Will the internet encourage the worldwide dominance of English or will native language use on the internet weaken the dominance of English?
  6. What could justify a nation state censoring social media?