June 5, 2017 • 1hr 46min
#7 - Approaching the Aztecs - A Drunken Introduction
The Martyr Made Podcast
Key Takeaways
- Cultural differences run deeper than just beliefs - The consciously held beliefs of a culture are just the tip of the iceberg. Deeper cultural differences produce profoundly different types of human beings with very different inner experiences and ways of perceiving the world.
- Universal human experiences form the base of culture - Certain fundamental human experiences like early childhood development provide a common foundation that all cultures build upon.
- Mythological motifs reveal deep cultural connections - Similar mythological themes and symbols found across cultures point to ancient shared roots or universal psychological structures.
- Human sacrifice had deep cultural meaning - Practices like Aztec human sacrifice that seem incomprehensible to us were embedded in a rich cultural context and worldview.
- Cultural symbols evolve but maintain core structures - As cultures migrate and change, they adapt their mythological symbols while preserving fundamental meanings and associations.
- Language, culture and inner experience are deeply intertwined - The development of language shapes cultural worldviews and individual subjective experiences in profound ways.
Introduction
This episode serves as an introduction to an upcoming series on Mesoamerican civilization, the Aztecs, and their confrontation with the Spanish conquistadors. The host, Daryl Cooper, explains that he will be creating companion episodes to go along with Daniele Bolelli's History on Fire series on the Spanish conquest of Mexico.
Cooper frames the discussion by exploring how profoundly different cultures can produce fundamentally different types of human beings, not just in their outward beliefs and behaviors, but in their inner subjective experiences and ways of perceiving reality. He argues that to understand historical events like the clash between the Aztecs and Spanish, we need to try to grasp how differently they may have experienced the world.
Topics Discussed
Cultural Differences Run Deeper Than Beliefs (12:04)
Cooper argues that the differences between cultures, especially very alien cultures like the Mesoamericans, go far deeper than just different beliefs or ideas:
- Consciously held beliefs are just the "tip of the pyramid" of culture
- Deeper cultural differences produce profoundly different types of human beings
- People from very different cultures may have radically different inner experiences and ways of perceiving reality
He critiques the common Western assumption that people everywhere are fundamentally the same and would want the same things if given the chance. This view fails to recognize how deeply culture shapes human experience.
Universal Human Experiences Form the Base of Culture (20:06)
Cooper discusses how certain fundamental human experiences provide a common foundation that all cultures build upon:
- Early childhood experiences like dependency on adults
- Traversing the gap between unified infant experience and differentiated self
- Adolescent awakening of sexuality and aggression
- Awareness of death and impermanence
These universal experiences give rise to behaviors, symbols, and narratives that form the base of culture. Different cultures then build unique structures on top of this common foundation.
Three Modes of Human Cognition and Learning (26:08)
Cooper outlines three fundamental modes of human cognition and learning:
- Mimesis - Learning through imitation and embodied behavior
- Narrative/Mythological - Learning through stories and symbols
- Theoretical - Learning through abstract concepts
He explains how these modes develop in sequence both in individuals and societies. Different types of knowledge are more easily conveyed through different modes.
Mythological Motifs Reveal Cultural Connections (58:13)
Cooper explores how similar mythological themes and symbols found across cultures point to ancient shared roots or universal psychological structures:
- Motifs like the virgin mother, dueling brothers, and slaying of cosmic serpents are found worldwide
- Detailed similarities between Greek and Indonesian myths suggest ancient connections
- Symbols evolve to fit new environments while maintaining core meanings
He discusses debates over whether these similarities are due to cultural diffusion or independent parallel development.
Human Sacrifice in Aztec Culture (1:30:18)
Cooper describes a detailed account of an Aztec human sacrifice ritual to the maize goddess:
- A young girl was chosen to embody the goddess for a festival
- She was honored, adorned, and led in processions
- At the climax she was sacrificed and a priest wore her skin
He emphasizes that such practices were embedded in a rich cultural context and worldview, not just acts of senseless violence. Understanding them requires grasping the Aztecs' profoundly different way of experiencing reality.
Language, Culture and Inner Experience (36:09)
Cooper explores how the development of language shapes cultural worldviews and individual subjective experiences:
- Language expands to meet the needs of a culture
- As language develops, it shapes and fills out people's inner cognitive worlds
- The structure of a language influences how its speakers perceive and categorize reality
He argues that radically different languages can produce very different types of human subjectivity and experience.
Parallel Development of Similar Cultural Forms (1:38:18)
Cooper discusses a curious case of parallel development of similar cultural practices:
- Describes the crimes of Ed Gein, who made clothing from human skin
- Notes eerie similarities to Aztec rituals, despite no possible connection
- Raises questions about universal human psychological structures
He suggests this demonstrates how similar cultural forms can arise independently due to common human psychological tendencies.
Conclusion
Cooper concludes by emphasizing that understanding historical events like the clash of Aztec and Spanish cultures requires grasping how profoundly different their experiences of reality may have been. He argues that everything in a culture, from art to social structures, provides clues about the type of human being that culture produces.
The episode serves as a philosophical and methodological introduction to the upcoming series on Mesoamerican civilization. Cooper frames the discussion in terms of trying to understand radically different cultural worldviews and experiences, rather than just cataloging different beliefs or practices. He sets up mythology and symbolism as key tools for exploring these deep cultural differences.