Which philosophical theory?

[mondi11]

best decribes the USA...what theory to they subscribe to or practice? This is serious question, I ask this to understand the west as a whole.

[nyyvonne]

Capitialism - Commertial Business and Production Industry is owned privately, not federaly (by the government).

Democratic Republic - The Populace elect represenatives to make the decisions for our country.

Seperation of Church and State - No laws shall be passed that enforce or single out a state religion.

Some of the philosophical ideals the country was founded on.

[Icebox]

The USA is a right wing, capitalist society with a strong christian element. Thus the laws and beliefs of the people are deontological (that si they believe there are absoloute rights and wrongs such as 'communism is ALWAYS wrong' murder is 'ALWAYS' wrong wihtout considering the consequences or circumstances under which the action was comitted.

Basically to say the USA has ANY philosophical theory associated with it is arrogant- it believes in nothing more than money and it's own superiority.

[u-Assist]

This comment is to Gogolbor....you really should read your answer....what you say is similar to Kantian philosophy. Have you never read Aristotle, Kant or Mills? I believe the first answer is pretty accurate (Todd), that USA (or even the west as a whole) has in fact used several great philosophical theories in the law making and in the constitution itself when it comes to the morals of human rights, poverty and so on.

I would also like to add (even though it isn't part of the question) since those of you who think the USA is greedy and can't do anything right. Have you considered that our country is only just 231 years old? We must be doing something right....especially when you compare other countries that are over 3,000 years old and they still can't get it right (human rights issues, poverty and so on). Have you ever heard of someone trying to sneak out of the USA to go live in Mexico, China, Cuba or the middle east? No, I didn't think so...keep that one in mind. Bravo USA.

[u-Assist]

Crazy people doing crazy things since day one.
=). lol.
Set out to be different from other countrys from day one also.

[TKDdesigns]

Constitutionally Montesquieu and Locke had a profound influence. (Ever hear of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness? Locke wrote Life, Liberty and Estate.) American philosophers around the time of the "Founding Fathers" were theorists in their own right.

To describe it today is far more complicated. The nation is so diverse with a colourful history. The differences in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution just begins to illustrate the US' diversity. Manifest Destiny, the Great Awakening, the religious foundations of early settlers, the philosophy around slavery all had their time and continue to influence the American mindset.

And you'll never understand the west just by looking at the US; for starters, the US and Europe have diverged on many paths.