Eastern_and_Western_Philosophy

Philosophy is divided into two very broad categories, Eastern Philosophy and Western Philosophy. Eastern philosophy mainly encompasses Asian philosophies such as the Indian philosophies of Hinduism and Buddhism. The Japanese philosophies of Zen Buddhism, the samurai tradition and the Chinese philosophies of Confucianism, Taoism and Ch’an Buddhism (Moore&Bruder, 2008, p. 525). Western Philosophy is older and generally divided into groups based on a progression of years as opposed to specific regions. An example of this would be Modern Philosophy and Renaissance Philosophy. I believe that Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, also known as Mahatma Gandhi, is a very compelling philosopher. He is an Eastern philosopher known almost anywhere in the world for his use of nonviolent ways to help attain political freedom for India and for striving to instill a sense of self-respect in all of us as human beings. One of Mahatma Gandhi’s main ideas was what it known as Satyagraha, which is the use of non-violent civil disobedience as opposed to any form of violence to resist domination and tyranny. This idea not only led to India’s independence but it also inspired movements of freedom and civil rights around the world. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr led a non-violent civil rights movement that was inspired by Gandhi. Mahatma Gandhi’s ideas of non-violent resistance are so widely known and accepted that the United Nations General Assembly has dedicated October 2nd as the annual International Day of Non-Violence (UN News Centre, 2007). In enacting this day it is one of the best ways to show how his peaceful loving ways of life and the influence it has had on the rest of the world. Soren Kierkegaard, a Western Philosopher, believed in existentialism. This is to mean that he believed that the focus of philosophical thought should be focused on an individual person and their emotions, actions, responsibilities, and thoughts. Soren Kierkegaard believed that it is solely the responsibility of an individual to give their life meaning and that they live their life with passion and sincerity. Kierkegaard has been called the father of Existentialism. He believed that one had to find the truth that was true for them and that they could live and die by. Kierkegaard believed that what may be true for one person does not necessarily have to be the same truth for the next person. He was an advocate of free thinking in particular in those choices that dealt with fundamental values and beliefs, and how such choices can change the nature and possibly the identity of the chooser. These free thinkers would invent their own values and would create the terms under which they would then excel. I believe that I am more prone to agree with the thinking and beliefs of Western Philosophy the most. Although there are philosophers, such as Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, that I believe did wonderful things for us as a whole. I do believe in using non-violent methods to help us achieve a goal. The very idea of resorting to violence does not appeal to me. I also agree with Kierkegaard in the aspect that we should be free thinkers. What is the truth for one person may not be the same truth for the next person. That we should find what makes us happy and be responsible for our own lives does appeal to me. I believe that it is not anyone’s responsibility to seek happiness for us, that it should be our responsibility to seek happiness for ourselves. That if our beliefs are pure and our values based on something solid we would be able to lead more satisfying lives in general. On the other hand if we base our beliefs in something dark and our values not based on something solid our mere existence could be sad and morose. If we look to others to make us happy we may never feel fulfilled. However it was Kierkegaard’s belief that if we were to change how we looked at things, instead of looking to others we were to start looking for ourselves, we could completely change our outlook on life. Instead of being unfulfilled we could come to be fulfilled and would then lead a much happier life. I also believe in the core beliefs of existentialism. References: Moore, B.N., Bruder, K. (2008). Philosophy: The power of ideas (7th ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill Higher Education. Retrieved on April 2, 2010. The Essential Kierkegaard, by Howard V. Hong and Edna H. Hong (Princeton, 2000). UN News Centre, 2007 retrieved from http://www.un.org/news/. Retrieved on April 2, 2010.