Publication in Russian on the Zen blog
https://dzen.ru/a/aZB3yy0tDlUXQ1j_
Historians and philologists are my "tribe".
I'm actually much more of a historian than a philosopher.
The scale of the humanities in England is surprising.
So, the discussion of any topic or problem here begins either with the big bang, or at least with the Neolithic revolution (which is a bit late, of course). The humanities here do not know geographical and temporal boundaries, in Oxford it is customary to think globally and as broadly as possible (as far as it is possible to imagine).
For example, a book about women's contribution to the economy will begin with a narrative about the archaeological find of a revered woman who lived 5,000 years BC in Peru, the role of women in the construction of the Egyptian pyramids, and will develop to describe the achievements of Victorian businesswomen and even the successes of Taylor Swift.
Children's encyclopedias in England are maintained in the same manner:
from the appearance of multicellular organisms and the human exit from Africa to covid.
This "breadth" of view cannot fail to impress.
It is difficult not to notice that the main line that runs through the intellectual life in Oxbridge everywhere is the connection of the natural history of mankind with cultural, socio-political history.
Biology is something that has united all people on all continents and at all times.
Culture and history, economics, religion are superstructures over the primary biological nature of man, narratives that have changed from place to place, adaptation to the outside world.
It seems that in the Era of Great Geographical Discoveries in Modern Times and contacts with African and Asian cultures, the accumulation of knowledge about new religions and beliefs, Europeans came to these intuitions.
After all, if "every hut has its own rattles," then it is somehow doubtful and too naive to claim that "our/your" God is the only right One and indeed the only one (1-2 billion people on planet Earth live quietly and profess Hinduism and Confucianism, Buddhism and much more, and they feel good).
Biological anthropology, in turn, is seen as a common basis in a complex, globalized, and multicultural world.
After all, we all come from Africa.
There are also many ideological nerds and innovators at Oxford, students and female students from all over the world study here:
Americans, Japanese, Chinese, students from African countries and the Middle East, of course, students from Eastern Europe also study at Oxofrd.
This whole cultural mix encourages you to think more broadly and go beyond your country, to look at familiar things from other perspectives.
Zoomer girls from England and the Scandinavian countries, Canada and Australia are an endless source of inspiration for me, as these countries are very close to my values.
I recommend a selection of Oxford Notes in the blog for those who are interested in England.
Ekaterina Sveshnikova, England, London, Oxford University
