License. The most often cited difference is that western philosophy is 'fragmentary' while eastern philosophy is 'holistic'. Western society is highly competitive. Line-wise, this battle is the longest so far, with 64 lines. These ways of living are not only brought about by topography and physical circumstances that play crucial factors in living, but also the school of thought that governs the major societies in the Eastern and Western part of the globe. In a nutshell, western philosophy is all about thinking, the cogito was a declaration of intent, allthough post Cartesian philosophers have sought to repudiate Cartesian metaphysics, they simply cannot take the I or the Thinking out of philosphy (generally speaking) Eastern philosophy views the cogito as a source of suffering, rather than truth and seeks to transcend the subjective thinker, often by proscribing a … Ethics is based on behavior, and dependence is from the inside to the outside. Good Medicine and Good Prevention When the body is in a crisis mode and is incapable of taking actions to overcome disease, the Western approach can be lifesaving and is clearly the best alternative. Interestingly, this lines up quite well with the east; simplicity is the key. Reductionism, while useful in certain applications, is not helpful in understanding the person. The main differences between the school of thought or the philosophies of the East and West are the West’s Individualism and the East’s Collectivism. Philosophy is often divided into two very broad categories, Eastern philosophy and Western philosophy. There is no difference in their fundamental ideas. Mark, E. (2016, January 17). Given such radicaldifferences, they argue, there can be no cross-traditional reference toa common subject matter and to a truth about that subject matter thatis independent of the basic conceptual vocabulary and theories andjustificatory practices of a particular tr… Perhaps it's a bit simplistic, but this example clarifies one of the further differences in how Western and Eastern philosophy deal with the "tools" of sensing and perceiving that the latter sometimes employs. However, both philosophies have the goal of finding out the meaning and purpose in the life and path of an individual Our latest articles delivered to your inbox, once a week: Numerous educational institutions recommend us, including Oxford University and Michigan State University and University of Missouri. Let us take a look first at what “philosophy” is in general and how it affects and makes differences on Western and Eastern society. You Decide! Western philosophy is mainly used in the Western parts of the world, such as in the European countries, while the Eastern philosophy is prevalent in Asian countries. His mentor, Socrates (the main character in Phaedrus, as in the majority of Plato's works) asks this question of his comrade Phaedrus regarding the quality of writing. Eastern and Western philosophy by Bart Nooteboom 128. Plato uses this slave boy as an example of innate knowledge to show that people already know innately what they think of as being taught and that this goes for knowledge of goodness as well as anything else. Who won? Western philosophy deals with Individualism while Eastern Philosophy is related to Collectivism. The fundamental purpose of philosophy is to find meaning in one's life and purpose to one's path, and there is no major difference between eastern and western philosophy according to that understanding. This would be explained with the selfless approach to life. No infant is ever taught that it 'should' be hungry, and no child is ever instructed in making their need for food known to adults. Cite This Work So in a sense, the Easterns win at philosophy because they did what was more practical, they achieved what was useful with it. Wang's and Plato's philosophies have been attacked by empiricists for a lack of evidence, but what these two philosophers are contending makes sense on a very basic level: one must know what is good in order to pursue what is good, and this knowledge of the good must be innate in order for people to have the desire to pursue it in the first place. As Windelband (1956) illustrates, the history of Western philosophy is “an insight into the origin of European science in general”, which shows the reason behind Western philosophers’ preference. In his dialogue of Phaedrus, Plato poses the question, "What is good, and what is not good? (The Western team states that it is obvious the Eastern team isn't on the same level of intelligence as them.) Differences Between Fraternity And Sorority, Differences Between Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Your email address will not be published. Related Content Eastern philosophies tend to center more around one's position on the earth and moral principles guiding social issues. Website: www.swami-krishnananda.org. East is more of the root of your Being, while West is more superficial (which is what East cautions about). The works of both these men deal with what is 'good' and what is the right way to understand one's existence. Eastern philosophy, on the other hand, is from Confucianism, Mahayana Buddhism, and Taoism. However, particularly in the 18th century there was a large and widespread effect from Eastern on Western philosophy and culture. While Western psychology seems to reflect an … Success is based on how much one walks his path without hurting others. Eastern philosophy consists mainly of Asian philosophies such as the Indian philosophies of Buddhism and Hinduism, the Japanese philosophies of Zen Buddhism and the samurai tradition, and the Chinese philosophies of Confucianism, Taoism and Ch’an Buddhism (Moore & … The Westerners could be saying that things like Eastern medicine and philosophy are based around tradition while their Western counterparts involve actual thought.) Ancient History Encyclopedia. The Divine Life Society . The similarities between eastern and western philosophy are greater than any differences cited by modern-day writers and lecturers on the topic. Let us take a deeper look into more of the aspects or problems or issues these two philosophies try to make sense of. One could compare the fundamental ideas of the great Chinese philosopher Confucius (551-479 BCE) with those of the Greek philosopher Aristotle (384-322 BCE) and find they are presenting the same basic concepts. Add on a dose of inner connection (meditation), and you pretty have science confirming that eastern philosophy beats western culture hands down! Moreover, Western philosophy takes its roots from Rome and Christianity, specifically Judeo-Christianity. Apart from geographical locations, these two parts of the world have differences in their way of life and the approach to life in general. There is no 'eastern' or 'western' philosophy; there is only philosophy. Teddy Roosevelt promoted himself as the President who, “Spoke softly but carried a big stick”, which is a prime example of the emphasis placed on power in western thought. The eastern and western philosophies are identical to a large extent and the critics only point out the small differences in the specific philosophy and wording. Mo-Ti, some claim, aims at a holistic understanding of one's self and one's surroundings while a western philosopher like Plato emphasizes specific goals one should strive for in discovering what is true and real in life. Eastern philosophy depends upon whole-food formulas to nourish the body’s ability to legislate needed actions." It seems that the thrust of western philosophy is around success. Of the two philosophies, eastern and western, eastern is superior because western philosophy is judgmental and dualistic. Linear as it seems, Western philosophy is logical, scientific, and rational compared to the East’s concept of eternal and recurring. Books Achieving goals and making "progress" in the west is more important than traditional values, as in eastern philosophies. / … THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EASTERN AND WESTERN PHILOSOPHY SWAMI KRISHNANANDA. It isn't the case that Eastern thought focuses itself wholly on what those of us in Western philosophy might deem mysticism. Eastern Philosophy vs Western PhilosophyWhen it comes to eastern philosophy vs western philosophy its all about the clash of civilization. Meanwhile, Western philosophy focuses on ethics. Philosophers from the east have always been engaged in exactly the same pursuit as their counterparts in the west. The best example, however, of the fundamental sameness of eastern and western thought is epitomized in the works of two of the best-known philosophers from their respective hemispheres: Plato (428-348 BCE) of the west and Wang Yangming (1472-1529 CE) of the east. Forums. An example of this is conflict and harmony, Western philosophy was built on the idea of difference and separation so they will not try and settle for common ground. The BIGGEST single difference is this: Eastern philosophy is descriptive and (by the way) not well differentiated from Eastern religion; it is maybe just the same thing, from a slightly more cerebral point of view. So that while Eastern philosophy has some measure of esteem, even in The West, but moreso in The East, Western philosophy has very little. Eastern Philosophers vs Western Philosophers Lyrics: EPIC RAP BATTLES OF HISTORY! In antiquity, the Greek philosopher Pyrrho traveled with Alexander the Great's army on its conquest of India (327 to 325 BCE) and based his philosophy of Pyrrhonism on what he learned there. Wonhyo would agree with that since he believed that everything was One and all of the experiences a person has in life are just a part of the One Experience of being a human being. Truly, barring scientific philosophy, the major lines of thought Mark, Emily. Buddhist thought and Western philosophy include several parallels.. In western thought, a leader is there to set laws and make decisions that will directly affect those under them. Her travel writing debuts in Timeless Travels Magazine. eastern and western philosophy The subject of philosophy has always been divided along two lines of thinking – the eastern and the western. Though that seems like a really deep subject and perhaps to some an assault on western philosophy I really only have a couple of things to comment on. Cite this page. 1. This battle features a preview of Sh… Ancient Greek philosophy is a system of thought, first developed... Mencius (l. 372-289 BCE also known as Mang-Tze or Mang-Tzu... Yang Zhu (l. 440-360 BCE, also known as Yang Chou... Rene Descartes (1596-1650 CE) was a French mathematician, natural... Confucianism is a philosophy developed in 6th-century BCE China... Yong Huang: A Neo-Confucian Conception of Wisdom: Wang Yangming on the Innate Moral Knowledge, Similarities Between Eastern & Western Philosophy, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. Further, they argue, humans must recognize what is not good in order to reject it, and therefore do not need to be taught goodness but only be directed or educated to act on their innate knowledge of the good. Since the 'discovery' of eastern philosophy by western explorers and scholars in the 18th and 19th centuries CE, there has been an arbitrary division maintained, especially in colleges and universities, between 'western philosophy' and 'eastern philosophy' as though these two systems present radically different views of the world. For only $5 per month you can become a member and support our mission to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. Due to its Christian influence, there has to be a beginning and end to find meaning. Truly, barring scientific philosophy, the major lines of thought Though that seems like a really deep subject and perhaps to some an assault on western philosophy I really only have a couple of things to comment on. Though each line is concerned with finding the right path to follow, the methodology and teachings of the philosophers from either line … It's evident you've never been our type of mental brethren! Eastern philosophy also thrives on virtues. Instead of adding more and more “stuff” to their lives to find happiness, many people are taught that simplifying and connecting within (meditation) give the real satisfaction that humans crave. Spoken on December 30. th, 1973. There is no division between eastern or western philosophy when it comes to the most basic questions of what it means to be a human being. Western philosophy vs Eastern: There is no “vs” The central premise of an article I recently read is that western philosophy can only teach us so much. The Divine Life Society . Web. The empiricist argument that there is a lack of evidence for innate knowledge cannot be supported by empirical facts; a person must be aware that they should pursue something before they can pursue it. The popular writer Sankara Saranam, author of the book God Without Religion, is one example of this when he claims that eastern philosophy is concerned with general knowledge while western philosophy aims at specific knowledge. We all have a belief that he different philosophy will melt with each other rather than against in the future. Thread starter Namaka; Start date Feb 17, 2019; Home. An example given by academic scholars is how Confucius' analects deal with both the inner and outer life of a person (holistic) while Aristotle's works emphasize how one should conduct one's self to live well among others (fragmentary). of Western and Eastern philosophy as though they fall into two opposed groups, such that Eastern philosophy proceeds by intuition, the abstract and the alogical, while Western phi losophy proceeds by concepts, the concrete and the logical. Humans are intersubjective beings interacting with other people and environmental factors in a constant state of flux. Though I am new to reading the depths of Philosophy, I am finding that all Philosophy is correct with the only difference of which question are you asking. / VERSUS! The BIGGEST single difference is this: Eastern philosophy is descriptive and (by the way) not well differentiated from Eastern religion; it is maybe just the same thing, from a slightly more cerebral point of view. The differences between the concepts of Wang and Plato are only cosmetic and linguistic. Just as a child knows when it is hungry, a person knows how to be good. Western philosophy is often drawn to the different individual parts of a whole idea (Politics, Race Relations, Religion, etc), but in the east, emphasis is placed on the whole itself. Want to help ERB? It is often suggested that contrasting Eastern vs. Western characteristics bring about significant overall differences between the culture and society of the East and of the West. This refers to the popular understanding that eastern philosophy - specifically Chinese philosophy - addresses the whole of human existence while western philosophy - beginning with the Greeks - only focuses on certain aspects of the human condition. This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. Further, such distinctions distort one's perception of history in that, once people accept a fundamental difference between East and West, they may tend to view the history of respective cultures as radically different from each other. Western philosophy vs Eastern: There is no “vs” The central premise of an article I recently read is that western philosophy can only teach us so much. "Simply stated, Western philosophy isolates and forces therapeutic actions to take place in the body. While Plato is quite well known in the west, Wang Yangming is less so, even though he is as famous as Plato in China, Korea, and Japan. Spoken on December 30. th, 1973. The infant cries to let an adult know that it must be fed, and the child verbalizes that same need in words or deeds, such as saying, "I am hungry," or going to get something to eat. "Similarities Between Eastern & Western Philosophy." We all have a belief that he different philosophy will melt with each other rather than against in the future. Satisfaction with what one has is the key. Western philosophy deals with Individualism while Eastern Philosophy is related to Collectivism. It isn't the case that Eastern thought focuses itself wholly on what those of us in Western philosophy might deem mysticism. =) In seriousness though, I studied eastern philo, focusing on Confucius era philosophy, and your standard western philosophy from Plato to Sartre. Retrieved from https://www.ancient.eu/article/855/. Sivananda Ashram, Rishikesh, India . Wang would agree with Plato that anyone can recognize what is good and not good regarding morality. / NIETZSCHE, SOCRATES, AND VOLTAIRE! Need we ask anyone to tell us these things?" Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation is a non-profit organization. Irrespective of religion, nationality, skin color, every region has different people tuned to various frequencies like goodness, passion or ignorance. Western philosophy, on the other hand, is based on self-dedication to be of service to others. 3. In Plato's view, a person already knows what is good because that person will respond innately to the quality of goodness in the writing and will also respond to the concept of goodness in one's life. / BEGIN! Eastern and Western philosophy published 12-1-2014 Here I start a series on differences and similarities between Eastern and Western philosophy, and my position in that. This cosmological unity is the main point in the journey of life as it goes towards the eternal realities. Ancient History Encyclopedia. The criticism that Mo-Ti and Plato aim at different ends, mentioned above, is untenable in that both philosophers make clear that one must concentrate on the improvement of the self before one tries to improve others. These are arbitrary distinctions which totally miss the underlying, and essentially identical, aims of eastern and western philosophy. Life is round, and the recurrence with everything around it is important. Your email address will not be published. Last modified January 17, 2016. Required fields are marked *, Notify me of followup comments via e-mail, November 8, 2012 • 2 comments. There's no substantial difference in either world or philosophy. Western Philosophy Vs Eastern Philosophy Wang's theory of intuition could be compared to one of the most basic of human needs: eating. I enjoyed studying both as, actually, they are all dealing with the same issues. Western philosophy can be divided into Ancient Greek philosophy, medieval philosophy, modern philosophy and contemporary philosophy, while Eastern philosophy includes Chinese philosophy, Indian philosophy, Japanese philosophy etc. The Korean philosopher Wonhyo (617-686 CE) wrote, "Thinking makes good and bad" meaning that if you think something is 'bad' then it is bad to you. Chakra Pocket Stones - Set of 7 Similarities Between Eastern & Western Philosophy. Website: www.swami-krishnananda.org. Filed Under: Life Style Tagged With: east vs west, eastern philosophy, Indian philosophy, Indian Philosophy vs, Moksha, Nirvana, western philosophy, Western Philosophy vs About the Author: Olivia Olivia is a Graduate in Electronic Engineering with HR, Training & Development background and has over 15 years of field experience. Eastern philosophy depends upon whole-food formulas to nourish the body’s ability to legislate needed actions. Similarly, holistic medicine is often synonymous with Traditional Chinese or Oriental Medicine. Generally, “philosophy” is universally defined as “the study of the wisdom or knowledge about the general problems, facts, and situations connected with human existence, values, reasons, and general reality.”  It seeks reasons, answers, and general explanations to life and its factors. I agree with Loyd. Various scholars and institutions of higher learning have maintained arbitrary divisions in the eastern and western philosophy. Similarities and differences in society. A comparison of culture and philosophy between Eastern and Western societies. Ancient History Encyclopedia. The Ancient History Encyclopedia logo is a registered EU trademark. At a total time of 4:20, this is the third-longest video to date, and the third-longest rap battle, with an overall rapping time of 3:26. 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