As all my vast literary following is aware, I have a special interest in what Sociologists call (I think) the Honor-Based Culture. I’m not a sociologist of any kind, but I’ve had to try to work out how the mindset works in order to write authentic characters in my Viking novels. It’s a subject of special interest these days, because pretty much all Islamic cultures are honor-based.
I get the impression that when Honor-Based Cultures are discussed, they’re generally treated as if they’re anomalies. Strange plants that grow only under controlled conditions.
I’m coming to believe otherwise. I think the Honor-Based Culture is the default human organizational system. It springs from fallen human nature. It’s what all cultures will be unless they’ve been a) suppressed by a more powerful force, like the Helots under Sparta, or b) transformed through belief, as with Christianity (and Christian culture long retained many elements of the Honor Code nevertheless).
I’m writing all this in order to set up a kind of shocking idea that occurred to me today. I think we’re developing a new Honor Culture.
“How can this be?” you may ask. “Aren’t we trying to suppress violence in every way? Aren’t our Western governments generally doing their best to suppress the carrying of arms, which is central to Honor Cultures?
Well, it’s a new kind of Honor Culture. Follow me closely, and I shall explain all:
What are the chief characteristics of Honor-Based Cultures?
1. The individual derives his value as a human being from his membership in a kinship group, rather than from his personal character and accomplishments.
Well, what is modern social engineering about, other than getting people to invest their chief identities in their affinity groups? It’s not about family or clan anymore, but people think of themselves primarily as members of ethnic groups, members of identity groups (homosexuals or followers of some religion), labor groups or economic classes. And this is key—an insult to one is an insult to all. Which brings us to the next point.
2. The group member will never forgive an insult. Insults must be avenged. It is better to die than to allow an insult to go unanswered.
How many times do you see people commenting on blogs, saying, “I’m deeply offended at your bigotry against [insert affinity group here].” The person has not been insulted personally, he/she has been insulted as part of the Group, or as someone feeling solidarity with the Group. And there is no forgiveness. The modern equivalent of the Duel of Honor is the class-action lawsuit, in which individuals and organizations can be utterly stripped of their livelihoods. (Conflicts in Viking sagas also often ended with lawsuits, with the poor loser trudging off, ruined, to the narrator’s words, “And now Kjumpp is out of the saga.”
3. Only members of the Clan are recognized as full human beings, with human rights. Any crime or indignity may be inflicted on outsiders, for they do not qualify as people.
Well, have you seen Conservatives or Christians portrayed in any Hollywood movies lately? Custer spoke of the Cheyenne with greater respect.
What I think is happening is that our culture, drifting like a ship with its anchor cables cut, is falling into the natural, default human condition—an Honor-Based Culture.
It will take a while for duels to come back, but I expect them.
Why do you think I learned sword-fighting?
Ravi Zacharias, in his autobiography Walking from East to West, notes some of these factors as differences between eastern (India) culture and western culture. He focuses especially on the difference in identity. In the east identity is based on associations, particularly family. In the west identity is based on personal accomplishment.
However, I have observed that small town rural communities in the upper midwest which have experienced generational stability for the past hundred years or so often exhibit a great deal of group identity. In these towns, everybody knows everybody and all their friends and acquainences are folks they’ve known since childhood. The only outsiders who move in are the professionals – teachers, doctors, pastors. Pretty much everyone else is descended from the original German or Scandinavian immigrants who homesteaded the area in the late 1800’s.
In that atmosphere family name and reputation is very important. The same family names seem to rise to the top of the honor rolls, sports rosters, community events and other activities. Other names dominate the police blotter, struggle to find good jobs or cause heads to wag when they are mentioned.
If I ever get my last two degrees paid for and go on for a doctorate, I’d like to do my thesis on examining missions training materials produced to prepare cross cultural missionaries for work in eastern culture to see how they can be used in training pastors for small town rural ministry.
Hm, “Honor Code” as code for “Grievance Politics.” No means yes . . .
Apropos of nothing much, but didn’t Scandinavian cultures have a well-defined code of limitations on personal vengeance? Was there not a payment system for personal injury, much as there is in Leviticus? Or am I maundering?
Also, having goggled at your Friday fight videos, I look forward to your review of a film called “Role Models”. It has some LARPing that is quite cute – pity about the R16 material.
May I quote you on Baen’s bar (with a link, of course)? I’d like to see what Tom Kratman will say about this.
Otepoti: Yes, you’re correct. The payment of fines was an accepted method for settling disputes (even up to conpensation for a killing, although it doesn’t seem to have worked very well for that purpose) among the Norse. Which is also reminiscent of our time.
Ori: OK, I guess. If I had the gall to write it, I suppose I ought to have the guts to defend it, or to admit I’m wrong when proven wrong.
It’s there. However, I think the feedback you’ll get will be more positive than you expect. A lot of people there have expertise in honor based cultures (Tom Kratman was a civil affairs officer during the 1st Gulf War).
They also dislike Liberals.
Ori, which conference/newsgroup did you post it in?
KratsKeller, Tom Kratman’s conference.
Do many sci-fi fans or sci-fi book fans dislike liberals or is the just a trait of Baen’s Bar?
I think it’s a Baen thing. Jim Baen was a libertarian, I guess, and a lot of people with libertarian/conservative views became fans of the books he selected.
Not that Jim Baen had a problem with other views – he was happy to publish Eric Flint. Of course, for all his Socialism and trade unionism, Eric Flint likes top-down Liberals as little as the rest of the authors there. 1632 is a hymn to American values, even as they get implemented by a trade union leader.
Your little essay about honor-culture is good, Lars. I think the growth of gangs backs you up. I may be wrong, but my impression is that within the gang, members act honorably towards one another, and certainly that how one appears to others in the gang is THE thing that matters. Those outside the gang are fair game. Of course, I suppose some people leave one gang and join another.
From what I know of it, gang culture is classic honor-based ethics.
There’s an afterword in the back of Carnifex, Lars, that addresses some of this, tangentially and using somewhat different terms.
Interesting. Noted.