Philosophy is the structured method by which one uses reason and linear logic to arrive at an understanding of the nature of things. The search and love for knowledge are as intrinsic to human nature as the drives for self-preservation and social interaction. People essentially want to know, and the basic questions of life why, who, whence, whither, and how tease even the staunchest materialist in the quiet moments of awe or the times of pressing injustice. To answer these questions, there have evolved two great philosophies, which are usually designated by the geographical divisions of East and West. The modern Western approach addresses the problem from an objective, theoretical, and pluralistic standpoint, whereas the ancient Eastern approach is more subjective, experiential, and holistic. The West looks outward to external data, and the east turn inward to internal experience; one method is based primarily on dialectics and discursive deductive speculation, while the other is based on introspection and direct intuitive insight.
Philosophia means “lover of wisdom”, and originally philosophy was the Jnanan Yoga or Knowledge Path to Enlightenment of the West. This was especially so under teachers like Pythagoras, Socrates, and Plato who adopted a paradigm in which science and philosophy were not two distinct things, but rather came together as holistic vision of Reality.
Differences and Similarities
Since the two traditions are always thought of in opposition to each other, it is perhaps worth looking at some of the similarities and differences.
Similarities
Eastern philosophies hold to the principle of Cosmic Oneness with the Universe and derive their way of thinking from certain religious and spiritual traditions such as Taoism, Buddhism and Hindu much like the West derives its way of thinking from Christianity and Judaism. One common thing in Eastern Philosophies along with the concept of Oneness, which can be translated into "where do you let off and the Universe begin?" is the concept of energy. Taoists call it chi, hippies call it energy and vibrations, Hindus believe in Chakras, which are powerful seats of energy within the human body. Taoists believe the same thing and believe that energy is neutral and that it flows through everyone and everything. This correlates very well with Western scientific thought in that Energy can neither be created nor destroyed, that it just changes shape and form. Common to Western thought is the belief that humans are not perfect and God is. Humans in this way of thinking have faults and imperfections or character defects or flaws. Eastern philosophies do believe the same thing to an extent.
Plato’s conception of psyche believes in three castes in the ideal republic. They are philosopher king, guardians and producers. Each performs their specific and essential function; they must work together in harmony (= justice) for the health and well-being of the whole. Likewise in Hinduism there are three paths of knowledge. They are way of knowledge (focus on Brahman), way of devotion (focus on god/goddesses), way of action (reinforcing caste system). It shows that different people say the same truth differently. One poet rightly said,” Edam hitat vipra bahudat vadanti”.
Differences
Broadly speaking, Western society strives to find and prove "the truth", while Eastern society accepts the truth as given and is more interested in finding the balance. Westerners put more stock in individual rights; Easterners in social responsibly. Where Western science has sought absolute Truth in rationality, Eastern Philosophy has sought complete Enlightenment through Reflection. The search for knowledge in eastern philosophy has always been more holistic, and less scientific, in the strictly empirical sense, than in western philosophy.
Eastern philosophy and thought is drastically different from Western thought which is full of dualism and dichotomies. Eastern philosophies also see the ego as a division between a self that thinks it exists apart from the Whole while western thinking holds that self is all there is. Eastern philosophies hold that the Universe or "God" IS while western philosophies see that individuals exist apart from a God who lives in a Heaven.
Since the days of Socrates, the real founder of European philosophy, there has been full-fledged emphasis in the West on Reason as dominant method in philosophy. Nothing can be philosophical which is not rational and nothing can be rational which is not logical. While in Indian philosophy the emphasis is on intuition (Anubhuti or Darshana). It is this realization, which is the main aim of Indian philosophers.
Certain parts of a person’s character can be harmful to self and these needs to be worked against, such as laziness for an example. However, other "flaws" are simply both assets and defects at the same time. For example, what a western thinker might call lust, an eastern philosopher might say that all marriage begins with lust. Also a perfectionist for example might have difficulty allowing himself or herself too make mistakes which can hinder one's personal as one learns from making mistakes, but perfectionism can also be an asset in the workplace or as an artist or writer. So from eastern philosophy point of view assets and flaws can be simply the same thing it only matters how they are addressed and applied in one's daily life. Similarly contrasting to Western belief in free Will is the eastern philosophical view of Will. The West sees that we are all individuals, which is really an ego that says "I" and "I" have choice and free Will. Eastern philosophies hold that the ego serves as a division between yourself and the Universe or Tao or the Nameless One or Big Mind. In this way of thinking there really is no free will there is simply Will. You are Tao or small mind or a part of the Universe and what you do is simply a further extension of Universal Will.
As contrasted with Western philosophy, with its analytic approach to reality and experience, Indian philosophy is fundamentally synthetic. The basic texts of Indian philosophy treat not only one phase of experience and reality, but of the full content of the philosophic sphere. Metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, religion, psychology, facts, and value are not cut off one from the other but are treated in their natural unity as aspects of one life and experience or of a single comprehensive reality.
Western philosophy is more concern with correct (priestly) moral codes. While Indian philosophy have concern for moral behaviour (dharma- the pattern of right living). Western philosophy believes that future is unknown; ones destiny has been predetermined by God and depends very little on ones own needs. But Eastern philosophy believes that future is predetermined by ones own deeds today.
Western philosophy accepts the approach of intellectual / experiential recognition of identity between mind of God and mind of comprehending philosopher while Indian philosophy takes the approach of intellectual and experiential recognition of identity between Brahman and Atman.
In Eastern philosophy collectivism is stronger. It believes a human being is an integral part of the universe and the society. People are fundamentally connected and duty towards all others is a very serious matter. In Western philosophy individualism is stronger. It believes that human being has an individualistic nature, is an independent part of the universe and the society.
As per Plato there is more to reality than sense experience where sense experience stands in nondualisticm relation to mathematical definitions and the forms known by the mind. And solution is non-attachment, fulfillment of social duty. While Bhagavad-Gita accounts evil/chaos as shifting from dualistic understanding of real evil vs. real good to nondualistic understanding of evil as resting on mistaking part of reality for the whole of reality. Solution is non-attachment (Aparigraha) to success or failure of one’s actions, fulfillment of social duty for its own stake.
Can Eastern and Western Philosophy be synthesized?
During the twentieth century, the Indian mind has been affected by Western, but the Western mind has also been influenced by the Indian more than ever before, through the writings of contemporary poets, sages, and philosophers. Eastern philosophies such as Buddhism and Taoism and Hindu have much to offer the west even though their way of perceiving the world and the Universe is completely different from Western philosophy and thought. Western thought is full of dualism and dichotomies, but eastern thought and philosophy is based on the principle of Oneness.
In relation to Western philosophical thought, Indian philosophy offers both surprising points of affinity and illuminating differences. The differences highlight certain fundamentally new questions that the Indian philosophers asked. The similarities reveal that, even when philosophers in India and the West were grappling with the same problems and sometimes even suggesting similar theories, Indian thinkers were advancing novel formulations and argumentations. Problems that the Indian philosophers raised for consideration, but that their Western counterparts never did, include such matters as the origin (utpatti) and apprehension (jnapti, rivedi) of truth (pramanya).
Problems that the Indian philosophers for the most part ignored but that helped shape Western philosophy include the question of whether knowledge arises from experience or from reason and distinctions such as that between analytic and synthetic judgments or between contingent and necessary truths. Indian thought, therefore, provides the historian of Western philosophy with a point of view that may supplement that gained from Western thought. A study of Indian thought, then, reveals certain inadequacies of Western philosophical thought and makes clear that some concepts and distinctions may not be as inevitable as they may otherwise seem. In a similar manner, knowledge of Western thought gained by Indian philosophers has also been advantageous to them. The doctrine of karma and transmigration of soul is important in Indian philosophy, which can be fully appreciated by Western thinkers. A deeper study of Indian psychology on Western scientific lines may yet succeed in establishing the existence of a human faculty superior to reason and thus make am important contribution toward solving the methodological problem of philosophy. Until this is done the divergent approaches to Indian and Western philosophy will remain unbridgeable.
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