Eastern Philosophy vs Western Philosophy

Summary

This script explores the philosophical differences between Eastern and Western thought, rooted in historical, geographical, and cultural contexts. It delves into the contrasting views of reality and progress, highlighting figures like Einstein and Tagore, and examining the impacts of climate, terrain, and agriculture on shaping these philosophies. The script contrasts Eastern emphasis on spirituality and acceptance with Western focus on materialism and change, reflecting on how these perspectives have influenced societal values and individual attitudes towards life.

Takeaways

• 📚 The conversation between Tagore and Einstein highlighted the fundamental difference in Eastern and Western perspectives on reality, with Einstein favoring objective reality and Tagore emphasizing subjective interpretation influenced by quantum physics.
• 🌏 Eastern and Western philosophies diverge in their approach to heroism, with Western heroes typically seeking to change the world and Eastern heroes focusing on self-improvement and acceptance of fate.
• 🏛 Western philosophy, rooted in ancient Greece and Rome, tends to be more pragmatic, valuing physical well-being, science, technology, and individualism.
• 🌄 Eastern philosophy, with its origins in Indian and Chinese civilizations, is more spiritual, community-oriented, and focused on mental well-being, happiness, and spirituality.
• 🛶 The geographical terrain and climate influenced the development of these philosophies, with Greek reliance on trade and navigation contrasting with Eastern reliance on agriculture and rivers.
• 🌾 The importance of farming in Eastern civilizations contributed to a fatalistic view of life, where people were more inclined to accept their circumstances and adapt to nature's cycles.
• 🚢 The Greek need for trade and navigation led to a more open-minded approach to ideas and a focus on rational discourse, which fostered the development of sophisticated sciences.
• 🏞 Eastern philosophies, like Taoism and Buddhism, promote a harmonious existence with nature and emphasize the interconnectedness of all living beings, unlike the Western view of humans as separate from the animal kingdom.
• 🧘‍♂️ Eastern practices such as yoga and martial arts were developed as means to strengthen the body and promote discipline, aligning with the Eastern focus on self-improvement and spiritual growth.
• 🏟 The Greeks' development of the Olympic Games reflects their warrior culture and the importance of physical strength and competition, in contrast to Eastern philosophies that often promote nonviolence and vegetarianism.
• 🔮 The core difference between Eastern and Western philosophies is the Western emphasis on linear progress and the Eastern view of cyclical existence, with the latter seeking balance and harmony rather than material advancement.

Q & A

What was the central theme of the conversation between Tagore and Einstein?

The conversation between Tagore and Einstein centered on the idea of reality, truth, and beauty, with Einstein believing in an objective reality and Tagore insisting on the subjective interpretation of reality.

How does Eastern philosophy differ from Western philosophy in terms of its approach to reality?

Eastern philosophy tends to be more spiritual and focuses on the subjective interpretation of reality, while Western philosophy is more pragmatic and oriented towards an objective understanding of reality.

What is the typical goal of a Western hero according to the script?

A Western hero typically aims to change the world to make it better for themselves and those around them, often fighting evil to restore justice, peace, and correct the incorrect.

How does the Eastern hero's approach differ from that of the Western hero?

Eastern heroes often focus on changing themselves, either by accepting their fate or retreating for contemplation, rather than trying to change the world around them.

What is the main distinction between Eastern and Western philosophies in terms of their focus?

Eastern philosophy is mainly focused on mental well-being, happiness, spirituality, and community, while Western philosophy is focused on physical well-being, rational science, technology, materialism, and individualism.

How did the geographical terrain of ancient Greece influence its philosophy?

The geographical terrain of ancient Greece, made up of islands and surrounded by water, facilitated trade and the exchange of ideas, promoting a more rational discourse and the development of sophisticated sciences.

What role did rivers play in shaping Eastern philosophy, particularly in China and India?

Rivers in China and India brought fertile soil from the Himalayas, supporting a large population and self-sufficient agricultural economy. This reliance on rivers for sustenance influenced Eastern philosophy to be more about accepting one's fate and adapting to nature's cycles.

How does the script explain the difference in the perception of time between Eastern and Western philosophies?

Western philosophy, influenced by the need for long-term planning due to trade and warfare, developed a linear perception of time, focusing on the future. Eastern philosophy, with its reliance on predictable seasonal patterns, is more cyclical and focused on the present.

What is the core doctrine of Buddhism as mentioned in the script?

The core doctrine of Buddhism, as mentioned in the script, is that material comfort does not lead to long-term happiness, and it emphasizes seeking answers within oneself rather than externally.

How does Eastern philosophy view the concept of good and evil?

Eastern philosophy, particularly through the concept of yin and yang in Taoism, views good and evil as coexisting within every person, and the goal is to maintain a balance between these forces rather than viewing them as separate entities.

What is the fundamental difference between Eastern and Western philosophies regarding progress?

The fundamental difference is that Western philosophy believes in linear progress, constantly striving for improvement and perfection. Eastern philosophy, on the other hand, views life as cyclical, with less emphasis on material progress and more on finding balance and inner peace.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Eastern and Western Philosophies: A Comparative Insight

The first paragraph delves into the contrasting views of reality and truth between Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore and German scientist Albert Einstein. It highlights the Eastern emphasis on subjective reality and the Western inclination towards objective reality. The paragraph also contrasts the typical hero in Eastern and Western narratives, where the former seeks self-improvement while the latter aims to change the world. The philosophical underpinnings of Eastern spirituality and community versus Western materialism and individualism are discussed, with examples from literature and historical figures like Jesus and Buddha. The paragraph concludes with a brief mention of the influence of geography and climate on philosophical thought.

05:00

🌾 Agricultural and Trading Economies: Shaping Philosophical Outlooks

The second paragraph examines the impact of geography and climate on the development of Eastern and Western philosophies. It describes how the reliance on trade by ancient Greeks due to their less fertile land led to a more open exchange of ideas and the development of rational sciences. In contrast, the agricultural self-sufficiency of China and India, supported by rivers bringing fertile soil from the Himalayas, fostered a focus on spiritualism and acceptance of fate. The paragraph also discusses the importance of merchants and farmers in shaping the societies' values and the resulting philosophical outlooks, with the West valuing change and the East valuing adaptability and fatalism.

10:02

🏞️ The Influence of Environment on Eastern and Western Worldviews

The third paragraph continues the discussion on the influence of the environment by comparing the Greek reliance on sea navigation and trade with the Eastern reliance on rivers for agriculture. It explores how these differences led to distinct philosophical perspectives, with the West being more change-oriented and the East more fatalistic. The paragraph also touches on the spiritual practices of Buddhism and Taoism, which promote internal reflection and harmony with nature, in contrast to the Western approach of manipulating the environment through science and technology. The cultural practices, such as martial arts and yoga, are mentioned as ways to strengthen the body and promote nonviolence, which aligns with Eastern philosophies.

15:02

🌐 Philosophical Foundations: From Reality to Spiritualism and Materialism

The fourth paragraph concludes the script by summarizing the philosophical differences between the East and the West. It emphasizes the Western focus on rational scientific methods and the pursuit of material success, as opposed to the Eastern focus on spiritualism and the interconnectedness of all beings. The paragraph discusses the Western concept of linear progress and the Eastern concept of cyclical time, highlighting the contributions of Greek philosophers Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle to the Western progressive philosophy. It also contrasts the Western view of good and evil as separate entities with the Eastern view of coexisting good and evil within individuals. The paragraph ends by acknowledging the role of Eastern philosophy in providing inner peace in a materially comfortable world.

Keywords

💡Reality

Reality in the video script is discussed in the context of the philosophical debate between Einstein and Tagore, where Einstein believed in an objective reality independent of human perception, while Tagore insisted on a subjective interpretation influenced by individual consciousness. This concept is central to the video's theme of contrasting Eastern and Western philosophical perspectives on truth and existence.

💡Subjective Interpretation

Subjective interpretation refers to the idea that individuals perceive and understand reality based on their personal experiences and feelings. In the video, Tagore's viewpoint on reality is described as subjective, suggesting that our understanding of the world is never completely objective and is shaped by our own perceptions, which is a key element in Eastern philosophical thought.

💡Quantum Physics

Quantum physics is alluded to in the script as a mysterious theory that challenges the idea of objective reality. It suggests that the act of observation affects the observed, implying a subjective element in understanding physical phenomena. This aligns with Tagore's perspective and contrasts with Einstein's belief in an objective reality.

💡Eastern and Western Philosophy

The script delves into the differences between Eastern and Western philosophical approaches to understanding reality. Eastern philosophy is portrayed as more spiritual and accepting of fate, while Western philosophy is seen as pragmatic and focused on changing the world. This dichotomy is central to the video's exploration of diverse worldviews.

💡Superheroes

Superheroes in the script are used as metaphors for the cultural heroes of the East and West, illustrating the different values each culture holds. Western superheroes are described as fighting evil to restore justice, while Eastern heroes may accept their fate or retreat for contemplation, reflecting the broader philosophical differences discussed in the video.

💡Buddhism

Buddhism is highlighted in the script as a key Eastern philosophy that emphasizes self-change and spiritual development. It is contrasted with Western philosophies that focus on changing the external world. The Buddha's journey to the forest for self-improvement is used as an example of the Eastern approach to seeking inner peace and enlightenment.

💡Materialism

Materialism in the video script refers to the Western philosophical focus on physical well-being, science, technology, and the accumulation of material goods. It is juxtaposed with the Eastern emphasis on spiritualism, community, and mental well-being, illustrating a fundamental difference in priorities between the two philosophical traditions.

💡Rational Science

Rational science is presented as a cornerstone of Western philosophy, characterized by a systematic and logical approach to understanding the natural world. The script mentions Greek philosophers like Aristotle who contributed to the development of scientific methods, which have been instrumental in the progress of Western civilization.

💡Geographical Influence

The script suggests that the geography of ancient civilizations influenced their philosophical outlooks. For instance, the reliance on maritime trade by the Greeks facilitated the exchange of ideas and the development of rational sciences, while the agrarian societies of China and India, with their reliance on rivers for fertile soil, fostered a more spiritual and fatalistic approach to life.

💡Cyclical Life

Cyclical life is a concept in the script that describes the predictable patterns of nature, such as the monsoon seasons in India and China, which influenced Eastern philosophies to view life as a series of recurring cycles. This contrasts with the linear perception of time in Western philosophy, which emphasizes progress and future-oriented thinking.

💡Individualism

Individualism in the video script is associated with Western philosophy, which prioritizes the autonomy and importance of the individual. This is contrasted with the more communitarian approach of Eastern philosophy, where the collective or universal is often valued over individual desires and achievements.

Highlights

The conversation between Tagore and Einstein on reality, truth, and beauty, highlighting the difference between objective and subjective interpretations of reality.

Einstein's belief in an objective reality and Tagore's emphasis on the subjective interpretation influenced by quantum physics.

The philosophical distinction between Eastern and Western thought, with Eastern thought being more spiritual and Western thought more pragmatic.

The typical hero in the East seeks self-improvement, while the Western hero aims to change the world.

Western superheroes fight evil to restore justice, while Eastern heroes may accept fate or retreat for contemplation.

The contrast between Western philosophy's focus on change and Eastern philosophy's emphasis on acceptance of fate.

The influence of geography on philosophical development, with Greek reliance on trade and Eastern civilizations' reliance on rivers for fertile soil.

The importance of merchants in ancient Greece due to the need for trade, fostering a more open-minded and change-oriented society.

Eastern civilizations' self-sufficiency and reliance on agriculture, leading to a more fatalistic and spiritual approach to life.

The role of climate and seasons in shaping Eastern and Western philosophies, with Eastern philosophies being more cyclical and Western more linear.

The difference in the perception of time between Eastern and Western philosophies, with the West focusing on the future and the East on the present.

The spiritual focus of Eastern philosophy, with an emphasis on mental well-being and happiness, versus the material focus of Western philosophy.

The communal aspect of Eastern philosophy versus the individualistic nature of Western philosophy.

The concept of good and evil in Western philosophy as separate entities, contrasting with Eastern philosophy's view of good and evil as coexisting within individuals.

The cyclical notion of time and life in Eastern philosophy, as opposed to the linear progress believed by Western philosophy.

The impact of Eastern and Western philosophies on modern life, with Western advancements in technology improving physical comfort and Eastern philosophies offering inner peace.

Transcripts

in the 1930s there was an interesting

conversation between the greatest Indian

poet and philosopher tagor and the

greatest German scientist Einstein the

conversation centered on the idea of

reality truth and Beauty Einstein

believed in an objective reality outside

the human while tagore insisted on the

subjective interpretation of reality to

boil it down Einstein believed in the

old Theory physics solid matter existing

with or without humans while tagor was

alluding to the mysterious theory of

quantum physics that our perception or

observation of matter is never really

objective the conversation Illustrated

the differences in eastern and western

ways of thinking about reality one more

pragmatic while the other more spiritual

now let's look at the typical hero in

the east and west a western hero wants

to change the world to make it better

for himself and those around him while

an Eastern hero wants to change himself

Western superheroes fight evil to

restore Justice justice peace correct

the incorrect while Asian Heroes either

accept their fate or Retreat to a forest

for some contemplation Jesus perhaps the

greatest Western hero confronted

Injustice and paid for it with his own

life as sacrifice to can see manifested

in Harry Potter as well the Buddha the

founder of Buddhism however went to the

forest to change himself ly the founder

of taism retreated the mountains in

other words Western philosophy is about

change while Eastern philosophy is more

about accept in your fate a great

example of this in literature can be

seen in the novels of the Japanese

British Nobel prizewinning author Kazu

shuro his characters obey their fate and

rarely question their somewhat unfair

circumstances however a typical hero in

the west would rebel against their

circumstance to change the world

accepting one's fate or putting up with

an unfavorable environment is seen as a

sign of weakness in the west while those

same traits are seen as a sign of

strength in the east by the East my

focus is mainly old India China and

Japan so a western hero wants to change

the world while an Eastern hero wants to

change himself to adapt in today's world

East and West have come together a lot

because Western mode of production I.E

capitalism has taken over the world but

if you look closer it it deeper you see

a clear philosophical distinction and if

you go back in time the distinction

appears more clear why has is

philosophy's main focus been on mental

well-being happiness and spirituality

and Community while Western philosophy's

main focus has been physical well-being

rational science technology materialism

and individualism of course there's a

broad generalization as there are so

many philosophers on either side who are

exceptions to the rule but generally

speaking the main distinction is

spiritualism versus materialism

Community versus individualism so in

this video I'll look at some of the

answers but also give more detail about

the differences between eastern and

western philosophy does the climate

terrain and the soil have anything do

with it are Merchants more concerned

with materialism and Farmers more with

spirituality Wern philosophy as we know

has its roots in ancient Greece and

later in Rome the Greeks and Romans were

influenced by other civilizations such

as the Egyptians and the Babylonians but

there are very little or no written

records of an organized philosophy prior

to the Greeks Eastern philosophy has its

roots in Indian civilization and the

Chinese civilization if you look at

their geographies Greek is made up of

some islands between the Mediterranean

Sea and the Black Sea so large bodies of

water sandwiching the land areas so if

you want to move around all you need is

a boat and you could hop from Island to

Island this allows much smoother way to

move things around there's less friction

on water than land the ancient Greeks

heavily relied on imported food due to

its soil not being very fertile as a

result the Greeks relied on traits which

brought goods from Egypt Mesopotamia and

Central Europe and more but with this

commodity trade also came ideas and

knowledge so the region was a hub of

cultural scientific and technological

exchange this promoted a more rational

discourse which allowed the Greeks to

develop a more sophisticated science for

example ukids elements is the oldest

science book which I'm sure was

influenced by the Egyptians the

Babylonians and the Phoenicians

Pythagoras developed his mathematics

Aristotle studied all kinds of things

including animals in fact the first

Greek philosopher Talis was an olive

Merchant himself who based his

philosophy on water being the most

important thing in the world he famously

predicted that good weather I.E lots of

rain produced lots of Olives so he got

very rich so the Greeks relied on trade

which allowed exchanges of ideas and

practical Sciences Indian and Chinese

civilizations however are more centered

around rivers and mountains in other

words quite different from ancient

Greece India and China were blessed by

its many rivers that brought amazing

soil from the Himalayas so their

agricultural economy could sustain a

huge population and big cities making

China and India mostly self-sufficient

trade with other peoples was a plus but

not essential China's yellow and yangi

rivers and ancient India Indus and the

ganis rivers are all start in the snowy

mountains of Himalayas and Traverse

thousands of kilometers which bring the

fertile soil it's no surprise that both

India and China relied on a crop that is

incredibly water thirsty rice it's also

no surprise that sad Guru the greatest

Indian Guru in the world today has a

simple message save the soil because

soil and farming run really deep in

eastern philosophy so gree's

geographical terrain allowed trade to

flourish between various peoples and

cultures while ancient China and India

relied on their rivers to bring good

soil to them the Greeks had to seek food

from somewhere else while the Chinese

and Indians waited for their rivers to

bring food to them as a result from a

survival point of view for the Greeks

Merchants were the most important class

of people while in the East farmers were

the most important class of people since

Merchants are mobile while farmers are

stationary because you cannot carry

around your land these allow the Greeks

to be more open-minded to new ideas new

technology new Sciences Merchants are

also less attached to their ways

therefore easily follow the market or

commodity today you sell rice tomorrow

potato Farmers however have a harder

time to change and adapt quickly so

Western philosophy geared more towards

pragmatic Sciences while Eastern

philosophy geared more towards

spiritualism if Merchants don't like

something they change but if Farmers

don't get enough water they wait for The

Following Season or accept their fate

it's harder to leave your land and

migrate so Western philosophy is more

change oriented while Eastern philosophy

is more fatalistic and other words to

change

yourself climate also plays a role India

and China tend to be warmer throughout

there so it makes sense to be in here

and now which Buddhism teaches also

Seasons play a predictable pattern every

year and people live a more cyclical

life Monsoon comes every year Rivers

flooded specific time of the year in a

way it was very similar to the Egyptian

way of life around the River Nile of

course when you rely on a river you also

experience great famines but they come

every few years or decade the Greeks

navigate the Seas where you're for the

most part in control of where you're

going meanwhile Eastern civilizations

were centered around rivers on Rivers

your course is fixed the river takes you

where the river takes you as a result

Eastern philosophy is more fatalistic

the fate of humans animals and plants

are in the hands of the Same Rivers it

meant that they saw all living beings as

part of one big family so they didn't

put humans as being Outsiders or special

or above everybody else else in Hinduism

Buddhism and taism we are not only from

nature we are nature just like other

living being the Greeks however experien

colder winter so they had to source and

accumulate food for colder days since

they relied on trade Wars always

disrupted trade routs which meant you

had to Source your food from somewhere

else Merchants relied on peace time to

continue trade but they also benefited

from Wars as certain Commodities were

more sought after it is the old adage

War fuels the economy as monies moved

around faster than peace time since

things are pretty unpredictable the

Greeks had to think long term and

prepare not just for the cold winter but

for the future in case of warfare future

became the most important time not here

now but next month next year you

couldn't afford to be here now like a

Zen Buddhist so this long-term or linear

perception of time became the dominant

way of looking at the world among the

Greeks a famous example is Aristotle's

theological philosophy that everything

has a purpose usually a sing single

destination in the

future Western philosophy also through

an exchange with the Middle Eastern

religions like Judaism Christianity and

later Islam came to understand that

humans were separate from the Animal

Kingdom we are kicked out of the Garden

of Eden punished for our mistakes as a

result you try to compensate for your

past mistakes you want to correct the

incorrect what do you do you fight for

causes if you look at literature heroes

are often people who have sinned or made

terrible mistakes to redeem themselves

they fight Injustice one way to fight

for Injustice is to make other people's

life better often materially you study

the world you invent new technology to

make life easier for others Eastern

philosophers were not looking for

material Comfort but more for mental and

spiritual comfort Buddha and Lai left

the city and their spiritual Quest and

went to the mountains and forests

Solitude allows you to seek answers

inside you not on the outside even today

most Buddhist temples in India Japan and

China are located in the mountains and

forests away from the crowd so people

can get away from other people the core

doctrine of Buddhism is the material

Comfort doesn't make you happy in the

long run the Greeks however gathered in

the city to debate and dialogue like

Socrates who would walk around on the

streets of Athens asking people

questions While others establish schools

like Plato's Academy or Aristotle's Lum

Western philosophy relied on dialog and

exchange like Merchants do to flourish

learn and improve the West built

universities churches and schools in the

middle of town and Villages so everyone

could come not some remote temples that

nobody could go to in is philosophy you

don't force your will on nature to

control or change it but you try to flow

with nature since both India and Chinese

civilization were centered around Rivers

often River flow is seen as a Nature's

Way in which you don't resist or remove

obstacles in your way but move around

those obstacles in other words you

change yourself not the out outside

world a good example is Indian traffic

moves around an obstacle be it a cow or

an accident while in the west a small

accident on the road brings everything

to a halt so Eastern philosophy tells

you to be more fluid flexible like yoga

and less rigid but Western philosophy

realiz on manipulating nature through

Science and Technology to make life

easier for humans as a result we live in

a very comfortable period in history

millions of people couldn't survive to

adulthood but today child mortality is

its lowest in history people live long

longer healthier but this also has

negative consequences for other species

on Earth as the more comfortable we are

the harder it becomes for some other

species in some

areas Asians are an average physically

smaller than Europeans perhaps due to

genetic mutation or sexual selection or

possibly due to eating less protein as

Farmers rely on Rice which is a staple

diet in most of Asia how to cope with

poor diet martial arts in China and yoga

and India are used to strengthen and

discipline the body Eastern philosophy

Center on the body as a vehicle to get

to a higher place and this also means

Eastern philosophy is more about

avoiding conflict rather than

confronting others taism and Buddhism

and Hinduism promote nonviolence

vegetarianism although Trend in the west

today has been practiced in the East for

thousands of years ganism is an Indian

religion that promotes strict vegetarian

diet and Gandhi a pacifist himself

admired gism for that unlike Asians the

Greeks at a lot of bread which is four

times more protein Rich than rice since

the Greek states were constantly

fighting against one another as well as

the Persians they developed the Olympic

Games which was to train soldiers for

Wars it is no surprise that it was the

Greeks who made it all the way to India

through Alexander the Great while we

have no records of invading armies from

India or China going to Persia or the

Middle East it was the nomadic Mongols

who made it to Europe not the more

sophisticated civilization like the

Chinese and Indians and in fact the

Chinese built walls to Shield themselves

from the Mongols and India was ravaged

by a series of invasions by the Greeks

the Persians the Muslims the Mongols and

even the British why Eastern philosophy

is less centered on Conquering the world

but conquering yourself for example

Buddhism is Center on the inner conflict

of fighting or resisting your own

desires if you focus on your inner

conflict you're less likely to engage in

an external physical conflict such as

tribal or ideological and Hindu Yogi

teaching your soul is the real you while

your physical body is acquired through

food you put in your mouth not just that

you also acquire your ego or the sense

of self through Impressions and

experiences with others so your soul is

permanent and your body and ego are

temporary fleeting and acquired now

Einstein versus tago conversation on the

nature of reality makes sense Einstein

sees an external World why tagor ises

everything internal in other words Yogi

philosophy is based on the pursuit of

becoming one with the universe quantum

physics has a similar theory that as

soon as you observe something you change

it in other words we are not separate

from the world or Universe we are with

the universe the world is not outside us

but we are the universe it's inside us

so yoga is one way to tap into or get

closer to your Universal Soul by taming

your body and ego and desires the idea

is to let your soul control you not your

body control your soul e Phil is based

on negation of self while Western

philosophy is firmly rooted in the idea

of individual self as a result of this

the East tends to be more communitarian

where the individual is less important

than the community or the universe while

the West tends to be more

individualistic buddhism's core

philosophy is to remove the self to ease

suffering wanting or Desiring is seen as

negative because you are feeding the ego

the Greeks are more of a Merchants

mentality to grow more profit and become

wealthier and wealthier Merchants are

more more focused on material success

and less concerned with his spiritual

side of life as a result it was a Greeks

who developed a more rational scientific

method to understand the material world

this scientific method allowed

objectivity which meant that Greek

Scholars could disagree with their

mentors even thinkers like Plato openly

disagreed with his teacher Socrates and

Aristotle question Plato and the East

however openly questioning your teacher

was and still is a form of disrespect

instead of finding flaws in those older

than you you're supposed to respect this

is especially important in confusion ISM

Sensei is someone you do not

challenge Western philosophy makes a

distinction between good and evil as

almost separate entities and separate

individuals or even groups often in

Warfare the enemy is seen as evil to

motivate your soldiers to die in defense

of good this is true on both sides so

once you assigned goodness with one way

of seeing the world the opposite of that

is naturally bad or even evil this

battle of good against evil allows

progress those Victorious can claim

goodness and they however both good and

bad are seen as more psychological and

less ideological so good and bad are one

or two sides of the same coin the ying

and yang and taism means every person

has dark and light good and evil built

in them good and evil coexists so no

matter how much a site it progresses it

doesn't change the core yingyang

existence we as humans are neither good

or bad but a bit of both our job is to

understand these so we keep a good

balance between the two forces I think

the most fundamental difference between

Easter Western philosophy is the idea of

linear progress in the west versus a

cyclical notion in the East especially

in Indian philosophy the Greeks believed

in progress Socrates developed his

questioning method of getting to the

objective truth Plato introduced the

idea of perfection and Aristotle came

out with Tils for purpose so getting to

Socratic truth plus platonic Perfection

and Aristotelian T laws or purpose give

birth to a western Progressive

philosophy and science so instead of

focusing too much on the spiritual side

of life the West focused on making the

physical life easier by deploying a

scientific method to understand the

world and invent technologies that made

life easier as a result most people

today live a comfortable life thanks to

Western civilization people live longer

thanks to Western medicine and

Technology when survival is no longer an

issue people seek meaning and purpose so

Eastern philosophy plays a major role in

bringing inner peace for millions of

people in the east as well as in the

west who seek meaning Beyond material

comfort so to sum up climate terrain and

food impacted how the East and West

prioritized philosophical understanding

of the world the Greeks relied on

Merchants and trade so the priority went

to practical sciences and rationality

while in the East farming allowed big

cities to flourish and people live

longer as a result philosophers were

seeking happiness not physical Comfort

life expectancy also grew in the East

which allowed more reflection in old age

when young people seek success but in

old age people search for meaning next

I'll discuss the Greek Trio of Socrates

Plato and Aristotle by looking at the

similarities and differences