The Diversity of Hope: Philosophical Theories in East and West (2024)

FAQs

What is the Eastern and Western perspective of philosophy? ›

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. Western philosophy deals with Individualism while Eastern Philosophy is related to Collectivism. Both philosophies center on virtues.

Although there are certainly differences between Eastern and Western philosophical systems, they both aim at the same goal of apprehending Truth and understanding the best way to live one's life.

Some central topics of Western philosophy in its early modern (also classical modern) period include the nature of the mind and its relation to the body, the implications of the new natural sciences for traditional theological topics such as free will and God, and the emergence of a secular basis for moral and ...

The ensuing article on the history of Western philosophy is divided into five sections—ancient, medieval, Renaissance, modern, and contemporary. A threefold distinction between ancient, medieval, and modern philosophy was prevalent until recent times and is only as old as the end of the 17th century.

The Eastern perspective views the self as always related to others in a collective sense, as seen in Confucianism which emphasizes selflessness and relationships. Meanwhile, Western thought focuses on the independence and uniqueness of the individual self.

What does Eastern philosophy focus on? Like all philosophers, followers of Eastern Philosophical Schools try to understand existence and reality, morality and ethics, and the meaning and value of life.

Individualism vs. Collectivism:

One of the fundamental disparities between Eastern and Western cultures lies in their orientation towards individualism and collectivism. Western cultures, particularly those influenced by European traditions, tend to emphasize individual freedom, autonomy, and personal achievement.

However, Eastern thought is generally more focused on 'philosophy of life', while the Western one centers on issues related to the great abstractions: time, space, theories of knowledge, as well as logic and ethics.

While the West may prioritize individual autonomy and personal achievement, Eastern thought often values collectivism and social harmony. Both traditions address how to live a good life, but they approach this question from different cultural perspectives, whether through moral contemplation or practical wisdom.

These fundamental truths are the causes or “reasons” of all derivative facts. According to the German philosopher Immanuel Kant, reason is the power of synthesizing into unity, by means of comprehensive principles, the concepts that are provided by the intellect.

What does Western philosophy value? ›

Apart from moral virtue, examples of personal values include friendship, knowledge, beauty etc. and examples of political values, justice, equality and liberty.

In the western epistemology there are four main theories of truth and error. These are known as the intuitionist, the coherence, the pragmatist and the correspondence theory of truth and error.

God as pure form is wholly immaterial, and as perfect he is unchanging since he cannot become more perfect. This perfect and immutable God is therefore the apex of being and knowledge. God must be eternal. That is because time is eternal, and since there can be no time without change, change must be eternal.

Much of Western philosophy finds its basis in the thoughts and teachings of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. You can't begin a study of world philosophy without talking about these guys: the Big Three ancient Greek philosophers.

Socrates of Athens (l. c. 470/469-399 BCE) is among the most famous figures in world history for his contributions to the development of ancient Greek philosophy which provided the foundation for all of Western Philosophy. He is, in fact, known as the "Father of Western Philosophy" for this reason.

Comparing both schools of thought, it can be concluded that Westerners stress on active learning on their learners, whereas the Easterners prefer passive learning. Westerners, since the ancient Greek, Western philosophers such as Aristotle, Plato and Socrates encouraged rational thinking.

Western cultures, particularly those influenced by European traditions, tend to emphasize individual freedom, autonomy, and personal achievement. In contrast, Eastern cultures, such as those found in Asia, place greater emphasis on collective harmony, familial ties, and societal obligations.

Value systems

Most western cultures are individualistic while most Eastern cultures are collectivistic. In individualistic cultures, the individual is the main focus and competition and achievement are valued. Whereas in collectivistic cultures, the group is valued above the individual and cooperation is highly valued.