Eastern vs. Western Philosophy
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- Опубліковано 3 жов 2024
- Eastern philosophy is a great deal more popular than its Western counterpart. That’s not because Western philosophy has nothing valuable to teach us - but because of the dispiriting, abstract way it has to date been presented to us by Western educational elites.
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When people say: "The West is fascinated with Eastern philosophy, and the East is fascinated with Western philosophy," I can't help but thinking about the Western fashion trend of tanning and sunbathing, and the Eastern trend of skin bleaching and sun-avoidance.
We humans tend to value whatever it is that we don't have. After all, "the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence."
Nice reference to the beauty practices. Spot on.
You actually just made a very simple yet deep and critical observation there.
I have to agree with you. Man had become more interested in what is on the other side of the fence then his own unique self, He's going blind to himself.
True, but it is less philosophical but logical to seek not what you have but instead, what you do not have.
Am I then one of the few who decided to decipher state of each side, and then work to incorporate functional mix of it all into my own philosophy? I'd say I ended up with way more western values, but does that really surprise anyone who's really studied both sides?
Funny that Western philosophy is popular in the East, and the East often ignores our traditional Eastern philosophy. I think that fundamental ideas of Western philosophy is already in most Westerners' mind from a young age, such as don't conform into the society, live everyday as it is your last etc. same with the East, traditional Eastern thoughts are already in the Easterner's mind before realising it. Ultimately I believe it is our nature to seek something new, something different from what we already believe. Thus, Eastern philosophy is popular in the West, and Western philosophy in the East.
Which Western philosophers are most popular in the East?
+孙明亮 Or it might be because Eastern Philosophy has better advertising :P
+孙明亮 maybe western culture is already in westerner's minds. but philosophy is not very popular right now.
you are mistaken ,when you say Western philosophy, Eastern people want to know about the Western lifestyle not philosophy. Similarly Western people want to know about eastern philosophy not eastern lifestyle.
+Y2Kvids Our lifestyle has everything to do with our philosophy, perhaps not on a conscious level, but it is fundamental in our living. And please, I'm not talking about highly abstract subjects, but those which shape our perspective since we were born. Philosophy is very broad
You say that Miranda "turned east" for philosophy, but in geographical relation to Australia, you could say that she "turned north"
+Wilf Stepto The East - West paradigm hasn't been a strictly geographical distinction for many, many years
A girl from the southern hemisphere is studying philosophy from the northern hemisphere 🌏
I have been working on finding a balance between the two lately, reading up on stoicism and practicing meditation. I'm very new to both but both have been affecting my life in different and great ways already. Love your videos, keep them coming and thank you!
I never thought I would see you here Groovy Guitar Dude! Big fan!
Don't find a balance. Take the Best from Both. Now, India has been Western for more than 3000 years. Why ? I'll explain later. Right now, I just want you to know that Stoicism was probably influenced by Buddhist Philosophy. Pyrrho lived in Ancient India for 18 Months and studied Indian Philosophy. The Gymnosophists taught him. Pyrrho was basically a Buddhist. Through him, either the Stoics or the Epicureans or both were influenced by Indian Philosophy. Actually, the Indian influence on Greek Philosophy predates Alexander in India. It is quite likely for the Pre-Socratics to have been influenced by Vedic and Jain Philosophies via the Persian Empire. Thomas McEvilley discussed this in his book 'The Shape of Ancient Thought'. Anyway, just so you know, instead of Stoicism and Meditation, stick to Buddhist Philosophy and Meditation. No one beats Buddha when it comes to Psychology. For the sake of Argumentation and Debate, refer Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, but if you want to do Meditation, do it the Buddhist way. Try Vipassana. It is the Foundation of Mindfulness ...
I believe both stoicism and mediation tap into similar universal qualities, one being to just accept the suffering of life
@@DipayanPyne94 alot of ancient greek culture, science, philosophy, and anything scholarly related are influenced by other cultures like Egypt and mesopotamia, something white people won't hear or admit
I prefer the rap battle version
Sudev Sen HAHAHAHAHA
Sudev Sen dont bring limp raps to a pimp slap symposium
The mad gadfly, Philosophy was my invention.
Rolling with the flyest nihilist and me their French henchman
VultureArmy you lack disipline in the life. and cant control of yourself. end of the mic.
Nietzsche always wins.
In my humble opinion, when people are in emotional crisis, they turn to the east mainly for three reasons:
1.Eastern philosophers are better "role models", because they do " embody their wisdom".
2. You understand them when they talk.
3. They show you a clear path you can follow.
Molecular biologist and monk Matthieu Ricard gives us the perfect example of this. He is the son of a famous French philosopher and as a young boy he had the chance to meet the most famous intellectuals, artists and philosophers of his time.. But when he talks about them, this is what he says:
" I didn't feel inspired to become what they were at the human level. Despite their artistic, scientific and intellectual qualities , when it came to altruism, openness to the world, resolve, and joie de vivre, their ability was neither better, nor worse than that of any of us".
Then he tells us about a documentary he watched that has changed his life. It is called " The Message of the Tibetans" ( Arnaud Desjardin) and it's about the spiritual masters who had fled the invasion of Tibet and now were living as refugees in India and Bhutan. When he talks about them he uses a completely different language:
" They all had very diverse physical appearances, but there emanated from them a strikingly similar inner beauty, compassionate strength and wisdom. I could not go and meet Socrates, listen to Plato debating, or sit at San Francis's feet, yet suddenly here were two dozens of them before my eyes"
He studied molecular biology in Sorbonne university and made his Phd working with a Nobel Prize winner, but then he left for Tibet.
When he describes his first Buddhist teacher, he says:
" He radiated inner goodness".
Well, I don't mean to be sarcastic or anything but you have to search long enough to find a western academic philosopher who " radiates inner goodness"!
The ones I met were extremely arrogant and full of themselves.
It is interesting, because indeed it is also in the western tradition to "embody the path" you are showing to people. Aristotle says that we have to make our virtues into habits. It is only through the constant practise of those virtues that we can become good people.
Eastern philosophers seem to have " practised" more in this case.
+Lua Veli and in my humblest of opinions...you are the very epitome of an artist. Your comment is by far the most interesting comment I have seen in years, and I do thank you for teaching me so many things. I do rather find it ironic whilst reading it, because I find myself in a rather peculiar disposition. As an Arab Muslim I find myself drawn to German Idealism, and the 20th century french existentialist school of thought/philosophy. I also never understood the western fascination with Sufism, in regard to your second point that is as I never found them easy to comprehend in anyway. I do thank you once again ^_^ and do forgive my intrusion and insolence.
very well said
Thanks a lot for reading! Best wishes:-)
I concur in all Your reasons - I´m so glad there are those with similar humble opinions as I :)
1. Modern Western philosophers try so hard NOT to be understood. Maybe they want to sound exclusive or unattainable... Nearly nobody understands.
If people can´t understand what you´re saying/doing you´re doing it wrong (even if purposedly). Anything can be told in simple ways. Therefore, in majority, it´s the ego of western philosophers which comes in the way. As You call it - they are full of themselves and their exclusivity. Shame.
2. Western old tradition is as good as Eastern. Only around Kant (in my opinion) it got rotten. From then, Western philosophy became a geniune torture and intellectual exercise without true depth.
Thank You, take care and, though off-topic - I applaud Your guitar skills!
The great accomplishment of western philosophy is getting rid of ridiculousness like "the inner goodness". Learned, wise people who became false prophets are also very common in western history. But, it is only through the rigors of the different schools of western philosophy that we now have the institutionalized sciences, arts, psychology, linguistics that offer us help in understanding communication, our minds, people and society that can be brought down to factual evidence. It doesn't mean western philosophy is better than the eastern philosophy but western philosophy has progressed and shaken off its mystical leanings while eastern philosophy is obsolete. Wittgenstein, Heidegger, Derrida taught me more about what 'goodness' means more than any buddhist monk. P.S. I'm asian by the way.
For me personally, the lure of eastern philosophy (over western) is its focus on acceptance, the simple things in life, and that happiness comes from within. Western philosophy can be exhausting with its outward focus, and idea that we need to change our surroundings to create a better life. Just my take.
this is the most sens- able post i have seen in this topic
That's consumerism or materialism in general, not the sum total of western culture.
Perhaps you never really study the western philosophy because it had a repelling social image. I personally found Nietzsche very inspiring and he too offers a pretty good point of view on life and instructions on how to live it "properly".
Brak8700 bravo! western Narcissism pure and simple
In the 21st century, it's become the other way around
Don't think you'll see this but no harm in trying i guess...
For ART/ARCHITECTURE I think Albert Bierstadt should be given an episode. His works are majestic, breathtaking and inspiring works of art.
+Bolin aka Nuktuk He saw it, now you owe us all an apology.
+The School of Life Please make a video for Renee Magritte❤
Nikka Gaddi All inquiries must be sent through their proper channels.
Thank you.
+Соɾу ℛ. who the actual F are you
+Bolin aka Nuktuk YES! Outside the impressionists, he's my favorite artist. I like Frederic Edwin Church too, both being giants of the Hudson River School landscape movement.
I don't know about Miranda but Heidegger has had actual impact in my life, the same goes for Aristotle and Kant. Perhaps the way Western philosophy is currently presented lacks the allure of Eastern teachings but it is still there, waiting to be explored. I think, as someone mentioned here before, that trendiness is has a huge influence in the popularity of Eastern philosophy. And I mean this in no way to diminish the relevance and wisdom of Eastern philosophy.
We love parts of Heidegger too! The thing that fascinates us is that it's comparatively rare to meet people who are influenced deeply by western philosophy. And we want to know why. It doesn't seem that the reason is that Western Philosophy is less serious or important (we love both).The explanation may be more to do with the unnecessarily academic character much western Philosophy has adopted, which means it's hard to get into and embrace.
I agree that mystic and cosmological philosophy differs greatly from the focus of many Western philosophers, although several ideas from the more "traditional" Western philosophies can be utilized to frame or expand upon mystical ideas. I've personally spent a great deal of my life studying Hermetic Kaballah, Hebrew Kaballah, and Hermeticism as a whole. These fields have both influenced my life in a very positive way, and also been much more applicable than what I've found in Eastern mysticism - possibly simply because it appears as if Eastern mystics assume certain mind-states which have been cultivated throughout their cultures for many millenia, whereas Western mysticism seems rooted in much more familiar cultural territory.
Agreed, and yet I find more tantalizing questions in Western Mysticism than in Western Rationalism. The methods and technical aspects of Western and Eastern Mysticism vary, but the understandings which emerge from such practices result in similar understandings. It seems like the West is dead set on defining ways to answer questions, but are quite divorced from the human condition and therefore from what questions are important to answer. Socrates seems to have understood, but many modern "Philosophers" are far more concerned with Knowledge than Wisdom. Funny since the word itself is "Philo"(Love) Sophia (Wisdom).
Really, you can't generalise so awfully in just one sentence. Nietzsche isn't defined solely, not even in a considerable way, through materialism. Pagan... I don't think that has almost anything to do with his philosophical work. And finally, materialism is only a tiny portion of Western philosophy. I beg you, define "rationalism" in the context you used it.
On the other hand, Eastern philosophy isn't only mysticism either. In fact, as is the case with Western philosophy, mysticism is just a slice of the cake. Take The Art of War, and Confucius' work, for instance.
+MetraMan09
There's not happines nor true, since both are mental constructions based on some data we have of this universe. I doubt Buddha said something like "hey, be happy", in fact, Buddha admited centuries ago what some Nihilists, Existentialist said: That there's not sense or meaning, there's not essence. And this is a Truth. Buddha said even that we have to renounce to Hope, that life is suffering and that all the reality is Impermanence, Suffering and No-Self (wow, I thought all the teachings Buddha said were "Hey, be happy!", isn't it?). And because all of this, he created a method to being OK among a life full of frustration ,discontentment and stress, what is not related to seek the "Truth".
That distinction you make is captious, there's not any election to make between Truth and Happiness in Buddhism, You can seek the Truth and being Happy at the same time: In fact Buddhism says that as long as you can't change the Truth, you must be happy and be in contentment with it.
Could you make a video about Alan Watts?
PLEASE
preferably a series
+Lyotac And Terence Mckenna
second!!
+Lyotac yes!
I find Aristotle to be my constant intellectual conversation partner. His writings give me comfort and really help me make sense of the world.
Making sense ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
I appreciate this video TSOL. However, I do have something to add. As a former member of the Soka Gakkai International (SGI), I was brought into the practice of Japanese Buddhism, when I was about 14, by my mother. Being born in a Hindu family, albeit not actively practicing, spirituality, as a concept, was often used as an indication for reflection and soulfulness. I was engaged in the practice of the Lotus sutra for five years but came across an interesting dichotomy. While Buddhism has some fascinating teaching for the human kind, not all facets of the imparted wisdom are still applicable. The world as we know it today is in stark contrast with the world as it was between the 6th and 4th century BCE. Hence, certain teachings that may not apply now are taken in context and absorbed in absolute faith. When this happens, spirituality gently merges back with religion.
While growing up, it will little consolation for my young mind as I struggled with coming of age, romantic attraction, failure, questioning the existence of a god, realization of death, contempt, greed or any of the myriad experiences applicable to a normal human. I retreated from this spiritual practice finding no solace in its moral scripture. Once I was in college, I came across the works of Plato, Descartes, Sophocles, Kant, Mill, Marx, Sartre, Camus, Rousseau, Hume, Weber, and Gramsci among a plethora of other minds. Issues such as my relationship to sociological institutions, our political realities, evolving trends in human nature, scientific advancements and its impact on all life took the forefront of my concern. Eastern philosophy and specifically this sutra of Buddhism ceased to provide answers. What I realized from this experience is that while Western philosophy can provide abundant material on the human condition, our history and the various aspects of our life on this planet, the wisdom of most Western works is meant to be extracted and applied to current state of affairs. Eastern philosophy, on the other hand, provides little academic insight but inundates the follower with handed down wisdoms sometimes dispensed through myths and stories for mass appeal.
This post is in no way a criticism or disavowment of either. I was once part of the school of Eastern philosophy and it didn't do much for me so I turned elsewhere. For many others like Miranda Kerr, Eastern spirituality has been helpful. She is not alone. Herbie Hancock and Tina Turner and some of the other well known personalities following the Lotus sutra. I write this post to express that Western philosophy is not devoid of meaningful material that can be applied to lives of ordinary humans. On the contrary, there is so much that one might feel lost in a sea of enlightened thought; not knowing where to begin.
That is because Eastern Philosophy asks you "Why are you searching? Who is searching?" Rather than providing you a solution to all your personal problems. It's lot more philosophical, lot more intriguing than often portrayed in the west. It's far poorly understood fundamentally than any other philosophy. It deals with consciousness, the mind, and reality. It deals with what is absolutely Real, and what is not. What is the true nature of reality. But all this contemplation leads no where, and Eastern Philosophy realizes this. It simply asks the questions "To whom do these thoughts happen?"
The answer to that would be the ever present Self, the Tao, the No Mind, the Original Mind, the Buddha mind etc. all which mean the same thing. Realizing "that" is Enlightenment, a state present in all of us.
Thanks for the wonderful read. While Western philosophy has a bulk of material still relevant today, especially in psychology, sociology and politics if I am correct, the way its is taught in schools seems to be in a way that it is presented in a complex academic which would bore many people thinking its just another chore of a subject to learn. Its not for everybody discussing Plato or Aristotle but maybe it would have been more exciting if the way it is taught had been more fun. I guess what we really need is just an adequate supply of ideas than a hoard of knowledge and principles that would otherwise hold people back and prevent them from enjoying a normal life. I think its the perceived zen or simplicity of Eastern philosophy that are appealing to some people and simply because its something new to them not because it is better than Western philosophy, especially in the studied and structured strengths of the latter.
Linton S. Dawson it's been year to your comment but i would like to reply anyway. I'm Pakistani, born in Muslim family and I've not read philosophy as a subject but eastern philosophy helps me become a better person. yes you're right when you say we live in different era than the philosophers but the message remains the same. take an example of Sufism, it conveys the message of love and helps us know ourselves. I read Rumi and realize our needs haven't change exactly just the technology have become a big part of us! what I'm trying to say is that our core values are same even if the world around us changes.
veryserioz
This was like a commercial with no substance.
+tieltavisvt
haha yea, like, tell me something i didn't already know
+Maggy Frog But I didn't understand, the commercial is about Eastern philosophy or about Miranda Kerr? Because after watching this I just want to search Miranda's photo material.
RafireRocksNRules
well, both including generalized info about western philosophy
difference between eastern and western philosphy is huge. Eastern philosphy involves spirituality but western eliminats it..
Western philosophy used to be spiritual but the secularization of the west has taken that element out.
wow yes
The Greeks did know how to live a good life, but they knew practically nothing about Yoga or Meditation. They were not extremely good Psychologists either. Socrates, Plato and Aristotle were the Champions of Reason, but they were Schoolboys compared to Buddha, in the field of Psychology ...
The Pythagoreans were quite spiritual
@@rustyshackelford3590 it is not Western philosophy that doesn't have spirituality it is the modern people don't read or see it
Alan Watts wrote a book called "Psychotherapy East and West" that I think you guys should mention sometime if you continue on this theme.
What a coincidence, I'm just reading it!
This channel needs a video on Alan Watts!
Alan watts needs a video on this channel
Why?
No. They will royally fuck it up.
This video seems like a western perspective of the difference between eastern and western philosophy. Eastern philosophy is broken into two levels, a higher and a lower. The higher level is ethereal and subjective, while the lower is hard and factual (We tend to call it Science). For example, Lao Tzu's "Tao Teh Ching" is a work of high philosophy, and SunTzu's "The Art of War" is a low one. Or, for a more western perspective, a golfer can maintain their focus with a higher philosophy, but the mechanics of their swing requires a lower philosophy.
Western philosophers try to make it all one; all in one flow. Plato from above, coming from The One and flowing through everything, and Aristotle from below,building up from nature.
*Lots of eastern religions have said that the clutter of the mind is the problem, that the now or present is the goal of life, but they do not say the truth is the way to clear the mind*. The west (Christianity) says the truth is the way, but they do not say the clutter of the mind is the problem, or that the truth clears the mind, or what the truth is. This is the first book that does it. Google *TruthContest read the Present*, It explains the big picture of life in every facet, it explains the nature of everything including the nature of the mind and how to overcome it permantly.
perfect fusion!
You're Obi Wan. Go back to Galactic Philosophy (The Jedi).
Doing your best in the present moment is all that matters. If the eastern philosophy has embodied that principle, then it is superior to western philosophy, and can offer more help to humanity than the west can.
Oh for fuck's sake.
The _truthcontest_ spambot truly is cancer.
The bible does touch on clearing the mind and staying present as well. It's just not a popular point in pulpits. But it's remedy for this is focusing on Christ and the fruits of the spirit and letting everything else go.
I don't think it's necessarily because Western philosophy is lacking something, I think it's more of the fact that when you grow up in the west, you've already experienced the essence of the philosophies. Enlightenment thinkers and ancient Greek ones all have influence in places like Europe and North America. Everything we see and hear that's educational and thoughtful comes from there. So when those things no longer have surprise and intrigue to us, we look to other places. We get used to Western Philosophy and we don't feel there's anything else to find in it when their actually is. So we look to other places. In the East, especially Korea and Japan, they look to Western philosophy. In the west, we look to eastern.
Probably, yeah, but I think not only because it's different and new, but also because we miss the other part of it.
This is the first video of yours I disagree hugely.
The eastern wisdom tradition is different. That is where philosophy and spirituality is intertwined. This is why some people look to the east.
And this is okay. There is no competition. West was never spiritual. All the major religions today, came from the east.
+Jason Roy I respectfully disagree. hear a lot about how the West isn't spiritual, but I think we overlook the obvious. Every time I drive by my city's hospital, which is named after a Christian saint and has a large lighted cross on the roofline, I think, 'Oh look, another American medical facility with ABSOLUTELY NO SPIRITUAL TRADITION ATTACHED.'
That's a little facetious, I know, but there's also the tendency of Westerners to believe that meditation is only Eastern, when in fact many Christian saints had meditative practices; anchorites and anchoresses gave up material life to ruminate about God and to pray; Saint Teresa of Avila wrote beautifully about contemplative practice.
I don't say this to defend Christianity (because I'm an atheist). Moving past Christianity to Classical pagans, I've recently realized (from watching School of Life videos) that the Stoics and Epicurus had very practical views on a life well-lived.
best wishes, J.
+Jason Roy How can you possible say that someone like St Thomas Aquinas or St Augstine wasn't spiritual?
+Fireestroysme
His comment was simplified as to make it more presentable. I highly doubt he was saying that "nobody is both spiritual and a philosopher in the west."
+The School of Life , I think philosophy can shed a light in the search for truth. Now the problem is that comfort many times may be derived from false beliefs. Mental health and comfort are important, and philosophy can try to explain the mechanisms behind it, so philosophy can tell you what things can make you feel better and when some of those things are false, but that does't mean that it will make you feel better and truth can be painful sometimes.
This video is wrong is so many levels that even I a history and law major saw that! I think you are better than that!
Eastern philosofy is not some self help guide meant to give people comfort from grievance. Western philosophy is not pure academic thought.
+Anderson Andrighi , agree.
+ The School of Life i've noticed that this channel focuses primarily on the Western philosophical tradition or East Asian traditions. I haven't seen much engagement with South Asian philosophical traditions. No I understand that many of these traditions like Sānkhya, yoga, Vedānta, et al basically infer a non-material conception of reality and are thus categorized as Soteriological, but there is a literal*plethora*of untapped and unexplored work on more secular topics as well. These include philosophical traditions on logic (Nyāya), polity and political economy (Artha), literature (Alamkāra), prosody (kāvya/Chandas), language (Mimāmsa), music (Samgita), and much more. I also think that a lot could be learned from the more Soteriological philosophical schools as well. Is it simply the case that you're not familiar with the philosophical traditions from the subcontinent?
How many Western philosophers have been trained in South Asian Philosophy? We need South Asian philosophers to do that work.
+BigHenFor That's a very fair point. I was wondering myself that it might be too much to ask of one UA-cam philosophy channel. I suppose that some of my friends and I could probably put something together…
I am sure it will tale few years to grasp these knowledge and just because they are not familiar, they may bot mention or reference it for not getting stuff correct.
+Vivek Shah Have a look at the Philosophy Tube channel. It's run by Olly, who started it just after completing his MAPhil in order to help students and anyone else to engage in (Western) Philosophy. It is a very good channel which could give you some ideas how it could be done. Also, check out some of the channels he and the SoL list on their home pages like Nerdwriter (not a Philosophy channel per se, but beautiful scripts and production done by a one-man band), Crash Course (John Green started alone, and now it's a brand), and Wisecrack's 8-bit Philosophy videos (fun media presentation). You can do if you can focus on a niche - like Philosophy students - then grow it from there. Patreon is a crowdfunding website that allows your eventual UA-cam subscribers to fund your videos. Most of the channels mentioned have used it, as they started so small. Check out UA-cam as they can provide basic guidance on using the platform. Do Google have a centre in South Asia? Olly won a competition and got to use their facilities. There's a lot you can do if you can get a decent video editing program, a decent camera and a decent microphone. Find some media students and pick their brains or use their skills. Look, you can do this... Please do it as Indian philosophic thought is underexposed globally, and comparison with Western ideas would broaden our perspective on our globalised world. Hope this helps...
+BigHenFor thanks for all of the links. Yes, I'm familiar with the wisecrack channel as well as philosophy bro (although the latter isn't technically a UA-cam channel but still very funny). I actually live and study in a north American university, so I'm officially trained in Western philosophy, although I engage in Continental and South Asian philosophy through my other major.
Do a video of Alan Watts
+needpit1
This is the comment I was looking for...
Alan never really did anything outside of reword the already set in place ideas and twisted them for our interpretations. I do love his lectures though
yes.
i prefer T. McKenna.
Watts was more grounded in reality. Like Sam harris
1. See them as two sides of the same coin.
2. Study the coin.
3. Be the coin, feel the coin.
4. Gain the coin.
5. Spend the coin on status symbols that actually mean nothing to you.
#im14andthisisdeep
Can you finally discuss African philosophy?
What is African philosophy about?
@@tagrandmere5415
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_philosophy?wprov=sfti1
@ thank you
wow, okay, that was completely mislabeled. A video about eastern and western philosophies that manages to not talk about eastern and western philosophies at all, congratulations!
+David Craft idk i think the point wasnt to explain the philosophies, because theres more than enough on the channel, but to make you really think about the differences and how you want to be happy in your own life.
+Rielly Anne maybe; I think it's hard to see differences if you don't compare them in some way, though.
+Rielly Anne personally, I felt like it was more of a criticism of academics study of western philosophy.
True. Maybe im biased because ive grown up in asia and this is a condensed touch on something ive been thinking about for a while. It would be awesome if there was a debate or philosophy podcast where they go through every single point in detail.
i think this channel sometimes just addresses phenomenons, like this western buddism, and gives a refreshing - or maybe not so refreshing point of view
I think that Eastern Philosophy tends to prescribe action, it's associated with DOING things, like chanting, doing yoga stretches, dancing, tantric sex, meditation, arranging your junk in a harmonious way, etc. It appeals to people who want to take action and take control of their lives. It gives people basic, easy tasks anyone can do like chanting a mantra or relaxing and taking deep breaths, so it can appeal to virtually anyone. But I think it primarily appeals to people who want to feel like their actions affect real change. People want self-efficacy. Western philosophy tends to tell people humans have no power, that what they do does not matter as much. Science and rationality don't care if you wish really hard or meditate for 30 minutes or how many times you chant Namu Myoho Renge Kyo. Western philosophy presents the universe as cold and indifferent. Not very appealing. (This stuff might be in the video, I just wanted to get my thoughts out at the point where he mentioned that Eastern philosophy is more appealing to people in general than Western.)
maybe she should try watching Rick and Morty, plenty of philosophy there
I subscribe to the multiple-paths interpretation of quantum mechanics: every possible outcome for the status of every single particle occurs in every moment, and a consciousness like my own is present for every new arrangement, isolated from the others by my perception of an arrow of time (common history, unique futures).
This implies that I will experience immortality, whether I want it or not. There will always be some paths that allow me to live a moment longer, no matter how unlikely.
So the Stoics are wrong: I cannot take solace in the idea that suffering is a transient condition. *It is my own responsibility to avoid unpleasantness, in order to avoid persistent pain.*
Yet I cannot take for granted that the universe will cooperate with my plans. This body has evolved to be comfortable in a very narrow band of spacetime on the skin of this planet. The rest of the universe, whether the heavens above or the fires below, is indifferent to our needs, and will eventually produce agony.
So the Daoists are wrong: harmony is not what the universe seeks or supports. *It is my own responsibility to avoid unpleasantness, in order to avoid persistent pain.*
What does this leave? A requirement for gradual improvement: ever greater awareness to avoid ever more likely obstacles. Yet I must seek simple pleasures along the path, as well, because what am I trying to protect otherwise? *It is my own responsibility to avoid unpleasantness, in order to avoid persistent pain.*
I can only hope that the Singularity is truly likely, so that the options open up again as my organic vitality collapses.
I'd be interested in studying Birdperson philosophy.
*****
Mindful nihilism
rick and morty doesnt teach u anything to improve the health of the mind, it just critque the nature of humans and the universe.
pickle funny hahaha
I was educated with Eastern culture and intellectual traditions, and am now based in West. I have to say that lots of westerners' eastern obsessions (acupuncture, spiritual therapy, tantric massage) are rather full of self-constructed nonsense XD
+Ying Chen perhaps through an ignorant lense they are able to appreciate the original authenticity of such philosophies? i mean everyone's perception of everything is self-constructed nonsense to some degree isn't it? XD
Im chinese but moved to australia when i was 4
+Ying Chen The exoticization of the east by the west in the way that you describe it is a case example of orientalism.
+Ahmed N Thank you sir!
Eastern philosophies are not always based on spirituality
the way you westerners use our things without having a good or true knowledge about is truly a self constructed nonsense. western philosophy sucks
This is like reading a book about how good the book is.
Still my most favourite channel on youtube. Thank you for making all of this.
+Hrnek Bezucha Most, favorite indeed.
Sadly eastern philosophy hasn't progressed for a thousand years. We have only "ancient eastern philosophy" but not "modern eastern philosophy".
There's no need to. That's the far as it can go. Western just have to catch up. Since they are far behind, fondling with 'rationality' ... see Clare Graves model
the west doesnt have to catch up the west does rational philosophy and the east does mystic philosophy there 2 seperate entities from eachother with both a different purpose to the induviual, for example western philosophy can believe in lets say reincarnation but in a different way : big bang explodes, life, suns implode=blackholes, blackholes make a huge black hole with all matter = new big bang x infinite time = everything has happened and will happen again = reincarnation, while eastern philosophy thinks about souls or direct reincarnation, east should learn to seperate itself from religion imo
Theology and Philosophy are two very different things.
Who said anything about theology?
Ramuk11 I don't know, the fact they talked about eastern Theology compared to Western Philosophy? Comparing Bhuddism to Stoicism isn't a Smart idea. Its more comparable to say Bhuddism to Christianity if anything.
At 1:52, all the things you mentioned are still important. Philosophy has outsourced dealing with real-world human problems to psychology. Maybe that's for the better, or maybe for the worse as this video claims, but it does free up philosophy to solve more abstract problems that, while they might not have real-world productive value immediately, will end up shaping the future of public opinion and rational discourse.
Grass is greener on the other side...this is a treaty biased comparison of east vs west.
And the argument is fundamentally flawed, its appeal to authority. Just because Kerr is famous, rich and beautiful, and she happens to like Japanese Buddhism, doesn't intrinsically elevate eastern philosophies above western philosophies.
Thank you ! Well said
+Vince Wei No argument like that was made.
Could you please do a video on Sir Mohammad Iqbal? His philosophical ideas led to the creation of an entire country, something (to my knowledge) no philosopher has ever done.
+Emad Iqbal Confucius
....you mean that guy... Who wrote... Sare jahaan se acha Hindustan hamara.?? 😂
How can any of these claims be verified with any evidence? It seems to me to come from someone over analyzing people and their actions to fit into their larger prerogative.. Much like the "beautiful homes is the primary reason house prices are the way they are and why people are unhappy, and that housing moguls are the most evil people alive". I just don't buy it. I much enjoy, even love, your videos on philosophy, literature and the likes and find them very interesting and presented in a way that convey the interesting ideas of those respected individuals.
Still, and I don't say this very often, I find this video stupid, over analytic and ridden with confirmation bias...
Perhalps it's only based on their experience.
+Marcus Bækgaard It's already obvious from even the simple fact that Europe is getting Islamized and European nationals are becoming minorities in their own countries. The wide-spreading of nihilism and subjectivism (quite obviously also related to the subject of beauty discussed in his houses video, but not only), atheism, or essentially a "culture" that is focused on the act of rejecting one's own culture, is what's causing a massive loss of identity and social disintegration in the west.
P.S. a hefty part of my course in university involves philosophy, and seeing how people even interact with the course gives a good picture of the dire situation unfolding in the west.
+The School of Life If this could work as a suggestion for one of your future videos, could you possibly look into Neo-Marxism (including Cosmopolitanism, Neoliberalism, Functionalism/Neofunctionalism), what are its standings in the world of western political/international, societal relations, and how they affect the collective consciousness of the western societies.
These movements are mostly studied in a political context, but are closely related to the rejection of religion in the west, as well as to the embracing of subjectivism and nihilism, which in my opinion is killing the western world. It's a complex topic but it would be nice if you could digest it for us.
+Marcus Bækgaard just like Miranda Kerr, I turned to eastern philosophy to find a way to live well. There you go, an evidence =)
+André Felipe Carvalho Breijão did you read Platos work? Dostoyevsky? Atleast Camus and Kierkegaard?
i was wondering the whole video in what direction it is going with Miranda Kerr... lol
Oops thought this was a rap battle.
+Ben Cadet Lol. Well done.
+Ben Cadet Only way it could have been worse.
+George Christiansen The ERB on this theme is actually pretty good.
+Ben Cadet Sike, That's the wrong video
Oop's thought this wasn't the 5th comment that already said this.
This argument seems disingenuous. The intention of academia is to show you the resources and how to use them. Not dictate how they should be applied. I'd take a philosophy course to learn about philosophy. Who said what and how they came to their conclusions. My instructors provide me the tools with my course in philosophy. But it's up to me to use them correctly. I am personally responsible for working out my own life, as is everyone. I could be mistaken, but this video seems to be placing the blame on the librarian for not improving my life with the books. This is squarely my own personal responsibility.
More on topic, I think the western draw to eastern philosophy is largely a draw to the exotic and new. There's plenty in there we can gleam for our own lives and the betterment of society as a whole, sure. But it's nether superior or inferior to western philosophy. It's just different. And people will always be drawn to new things.
No mention of Christianity in the discussion of Western culture? How then is this an unbiased review of eastern vs western philosophy?
+Jolly Roger Christianity is plague on philosophy. It's damn annoying
+Jolly Roger It wasn't discussion of Culture, but Philosophy.
And christianity, as THE most used political tool in the west for over two millenia, has been so twisted, dimmed and through the blender, that seldom is the philosopher who would imply the standard christian philosophical kit as a consistent, logical or otherwise valid as a whole.
+Toraperse I never said whether Christianity was good or bad anyway - I'm just saying that it has been the cornerstone of Western culture and a basis for it's philosophy for centuries. Also more people turn to Christianity to find meaning in their life than Buddhism. So ignoring Christianity makes this piece biased.
+Jolly Roger
Christianity originated from a levantine Middle Eastern people known as Jews. The peoples of Europe adopted some aspects of Jewish culture.
+Akbar Khan That's right and it is the fundamental driver of Western culture and philosophy. So why is it excluded in a comparison of Eastern and Western philosophy? Answer: It's because this piece suffers from the same bias as the mainstream media does.
The absence of music is delightfully striking
What I generally prefer about western philosophy is the more secular and scientific way how topics are approached. Eastern philosophy tends to be very spiritualistic with a rather religious and esoteric character, which really isn't my cup of tea. It essentially promotes the subjugation of the individual to something bigger like the mystic forces of the cosmos for example, instead of focusing on giving the people the tools and ideas necessary to find the right paths for themselves.
+Marie Müller I totally see that. I wrestle between the two, I kind of see them as the difference between right and left brain thinking (not the generic stereotype for them). Western philosophy to me largely entails the objective mindset, which a lot of people and different spiritual beliefs in general lack. We are complex and deep beings, and I feel that the desire to know about the nature of things, in a way that is clearly understandable, is both valid and justified. For example, death is something that disturbs me, and if someone is going to tell me that life is mostly positive and meaningful then I want to know how and why that fits into the equation.
Eastern or right brain thinking/living (when practiced effectively) does not necessarily abandon the desire to know. I feel like it is all about serenity, and a type of detachment I feel can be harmonious with the impersonal nature of the world. The school of life video about Lao Tzu is my fav video by them and covers this type of philosophy very well I think. In summary (in my opinion of course!), I see western philosophy as a way of thinking and eastern philosophy (more specifically daoism as I dont care for the others) as a way of being.
+Marie Müller Its all about your view unto the world some find the way through spiritual means and others through science, well once they get to the obvious conclusions of science.
Western Philosophy seems more into Individualism as well as importance, inheritance, politics, governance, and science while Eastern Philosophy seems mostly into Mystery, Fixing, Creations, Arts, Religions, Spiritualities, and certain ways of life
Alain, I wonder what your take on Alan Watts would be. Will you present him as Wastern or Eastern?
+The School of Life what about Rene Guenon?
+The School of Life lol alan watts drank himself to death so i doubt he attained anything like nirvana
Divan Visagie
ok sure. If u understood nirvana u wouldnt of said that
Divan Visagie
ok.. good point then lol
These debates on which one is better is absolutely ridiculous. It's whatever works, floats the boat, bends the bow, cracks the nut to our individual struggles with life. This video simply demonstrates that both eastern and western philosophy are diverse tools that we can take onboard to navigate through this existence.
Right on, you are smart cookie.
This is actually not because western philosophy is 'too academic', what Miranda Kerr does is called escapism. It's a remnant of the romantic era in Europe. Many wanted to escape their daily lives in the west and did that by doing escapism. Eastern philosophies and religions became popular because they were exotic. Still many people nowadays escape in exotic religion to basically distance themselves the from western society they live in. Westerners who join bhudist monastaries in Asia could just as well join a catholic monastary in the European countryside but don't do it because it's 'too western' when in fact western society has nothing to do with being a monk/nun.
+Freek De Jonghe something wrong with this?
Bob Saget No it's not wrong, but it's just short sighted to blame it on ' boring philosophy classes' when that's not the problem
Growing up in Eastern culture filled with a strong sense of community honor and dignity, i go to Western ideal of freedom and self expression for inner peace
Soka Gakkai is a cult, it does not represent nor is it part of eastern philosophy.
+AK K
Glad someone said it...
Didn't know, thank you.
+AK K Define "cult" and show how it differs from Eastern philosophy and how this particular group is not legitimate.
+soslothful I think given that they are a New religious movement that has a political party that exists to create political Buddhism in Japan, along with having multiple international schools that target the downtrodden, I would say be a little skeptical about their credentials. Not to mention their leader 'Ikeda-sensei' has a been known to be violent and manipulative, along with having a straight up personality cult around him. Don't defend the indefensible. Christ, even Sion Sono made a movie about them (Love Exposure). m.reddit.com/r/sgiwhistleblowers
Jack Edmondson I did not defend this group. The problems you specify are common to all religions. This group is not a special case.
Why can’t some people can’t see philosophies as gifts for entire humanity? Why divide ‘eastern’ and ‘western’? Why use the word ‘vs’? This is a big problem of this channel which is promoting ‘philosophy’.
You guys at school of life probably don't even think about this but isn't there a way to bring back the student philosopher series? Not that i don't like the videos you do give us but I miss the series to be honest. Besides Emma having great charisma the whole idea of the show had a feel of novelty and was refreshing compared to your usual content.
Sokagakkai is a "CULT" based on Budhist philosophy. It's a the equivalent calling Mormonism as a form as Christianity. Although Japan is a secular nation, the Sokagakkai has a lot of political power, as they have a very large following.
In my opinion I believe Western Philosophy was once a deeply profound subject, a way of life one could say, but the more modern Western Philosophers are very much different in comparison to plato or Socrates......WHY? Because modern philosophy has severed it's connection to spirit. Which has left us hollow, empty and longing for answers.
+Plato the west with scientific advancements has become too much about tangible results and pure numbers. Anything resembling philosophy and connecting to higher state of conscious is laughed off as religious superstitions. but many find deep comfort in those so they look to east, southeast and south asian cultures instead.
+zeebazu What you say is true.
We often look towards the doctors and professors of science to satisfy our hunger for answers.
But do they really hold the key to truth?
I think we need to look back to the ancient Philosophers, for they devoted their entire lives to obtaining one thing.Wisdom
Plato "But do they really hold the key to truth" - in numerous cases they do. It would be unwise to disregard all the excellent scientific advancements making our lives better everyday. I myself am an engineer and have loved science ever since childhood.
here in west we put so much focus on hard numbers and cash money to validate and measure success, that we start to disregard the slightest possibility of merit and our well being achieved by alternate methods because they don't follow our set requirements.
despite being emotional beings we routinely forget just how much influence our psychology has on our body and well being. for centuries all these philosophers, religions and spiritual guidelines accessed those deep states within us to achieve surprising outcomes. but so many people laugh them off because those century old formats and traditions never bothered with peer reviewed papers to validate themselves.
zeebazu I respectively disagree, here's why.
The question was 'Does Science hold the key to Truth?'
Unequivocally science has brought us much in terms of comfort and advanced our technologies.
But it has failed to answer questions like, why are we here, what is God or is there one?
Science can only speculate on these questions
Modern science has severed its connection to spirit and falls short in attempting to answer these questions.
-
Also yes you are right in saying science requires tangible results and numbers BUT it is impossible to prove God using Numbers and algorithms.
For it is only understood within one's heart, not in one's brain.
-
I hope my counter argument makes logical sense and would like to know your opinion on the matter.
+Plato
The path of the objective leads to answers about our existence that humans do not want to believe to be true.
For the truth is that, devoid of the subjective, there is no higher meaning.
However, subjective reality is still a valid reality, as it influences so many; therefore, we must look for answers from subjective reality.
Solace can also be found in art, since everybody is a philosopher of sorts, humans can find connecting philosophical meaning from books, movies, video games, and etc.
1 funny example.
I studied Spanish in Salamanca before.
In class a Swedish girl told the teacher that she thought the class was too difficult and she needed to go to lower level class.
While I told the teacher,in the name of my family I shall conceive believe achieve reigning defending undisputed.
This is a very short-sighted East-West dichotomy. To explain, the East had many great spiritual leaders such as the Buddha and Lao TU who taught people to accept and embrace the way Universe works, and to change from within. But the East also had many thinkers such as Confucius and Mencius who wanted to make an idealized society as Plato and Voltaire did. Moreover, the West had many great sages such as Pythagoras. Socrates, Diogenes, Epicurus, Seneca and Marcus Aurelius who had very similar ideas to the Buddha.
This is a really good point. I took a Buddhism course in university, and while by the end of understood Buddhism, I knew of it's main tenets, I liked it, I thought it was great... and it had zero impact on my life. It was taught intellectually, as knowledge. Years later, I took a workshop based largely on the ideas of Heidegger, and it completely shifted things for me. Turns out there was a difference between knowing something, and getting or groking it. The workshop was taught so that we would experience it, and thus get it into our life as a practice. That gave me freedom and peace of mind that I was looking for, and, interestingly, also let me actually get Buddhist thought on the same fundamental level, letting its thought also influence my life. It's not the thought, or the value of the philosophies, it's how they're taught. In the end, we're all the same human beings, and all philosophies developed to a deep level have to start talking about the same things. The how of us learning it is the key. :)
Miranda Kerr... such an irrelevant example
First comment! I feel privaliged! 6th view. I love this channel, my whole perspective on life is changing. I'm not ashamed to be and show kindness to people I know, it is not a weakness! Keep up the good work TSOL!
You don't happen to have miss Kerr's phone number do you?
You forget about Christianity, more specifically the Catholic church, which was the main driver of western culture and thought (not to mention science) after the Greeks and Romans. The Catholic church has the fullness of truth. It has the ability to deal with day to day problems like break-ups and job losses. In the West, It is hard to find a source of hope and comfort without looking to the Catholic church.
I adore the voice of this particular person
can you please make a video about guanxi? I am a Chinese student studying in America. And I am deeply aware of the western-eastern philosophy contrast you are talking about. It genuinely interest me! please keep up the good work
2:56 is mahavir not buddha
I dont know? as a buddhist I have never heard of Mahavir, but im willing to grant that Mahavir was aware that everyone experiences dissatisfaction at times in life.
Really not that surprising that people turn to Eastern philosophy when no one knows anything about Western philosophy. Multiculturalism in the West undermines Western culture.
People aren't rejecting Western philosophy, they're rejecting Western culture wholesale; The decline of Western philosophy is just a by-product.
I agree 100%; could not have said it better.
This channel is a great vehicle for engaging people with philosophy. But Perhaps there s a way for new ideas to be collected and 'distilled'? Some kind of open source thought project?
+The School of Life yup... Make one and i will definitely join in.
Have you already done a comparison of Eastern and Western religion? If not, I'd be fascinated. A friend and I were discussing the main differences the other day after watching some of your videos of Eastern philosophers.
I feel like the Western philosophy is really diverse and its hard to follow it, while Eastern is going for the one goal - enlightenment. The world isn't ready for ideas and thoughts that West is TRYING TO FIGURE OUT. We first need to find ourselves! Which is what East offers. Seeking for the Western ideas comes after... Tnx school of life for this awesome video!
lmao nothing in the east is designed to help you 'find yourself', it largely teaches the dangers of living a life in hope of 'finding yourself' as it proposes that is an unfeasible concept. Everything else is an interesting argument though : )
+Jep Hep Thanks for your opinion man. Well, probably we can't ever "find ourselves" or be perfect, which is a western idea, but in my opinion we should strive for it, knowing that we'll never reach it. That way we can become our BEST selves. :)
+DulleCo no no, you seem to misunderstand, eastern philosophy on the whole is against finding yourself - the west leans much more towards the idea but the east definitely rejects it
+Jep Hep because there is no self.
+Bob Saget that's certainly a fair perspective
Western philosophy would've been a lot more successful in achieving that goal if it advocated practices like meditation that physically changed the wiring of your brain. Conceptually understanding and intellectualizing life's dilemmas from an outside perspective doesn't usually solve the problem because it's not an intellectual problem, it's an emotional, limbic problem. Eastern philosophies generally address the problem from the inside.
+Morpheus X
The problem is, philosophy as a discipline is all about "Conceptually understanding and intellectualizing". Western culture had separated religion from everything else, and lumped the whole spirituality thing together with religion.
Short version: Western philosophy can let you discover your own answers. Or you can take an instant eastern answer, that's so alien and cool. And put water into it.
Western philosophy no longer asks, "What is true?" - it asks, "What is truth?"
That is, in academia it is exceedingly rare to find a philosopher who actually believes a philosophy. They are merely curators and connoisseurs of prolix arguments, and pass on their appreciation of the same without judgement.
Now that, too, has its place and a well educated person may enjoy the diversion of chasing down obscure arguments and counter-arguments. But it doesn't answer the questions of 'how then should we live?' and 'what then should I do?' The portions of Eastern philosophy which are attractive in the West are those that do answer such questions without invoking religious dogmatism. (And there's plenty of Eastern scholasticism and religious commentary that arouse little attraction to most Westerners.)
There is a hunger in the West for philosophy which can be felt and lived, even more so with the decline of religion. In the Western canon only the arts still address these needs; and even there modernism in academic painting, sculpture, and music have led to emotionally sterile places for most people. The body, the heart, the soul, even most of the mind except the intellect are left malnourished. People can be brought to tears by a Beatles song played at the right moment. Few are brought to tears by John Cage. (Who ironically, was heavily influenced by Eastern philosophy!...)
One doesn't have to be bought to tears to feel something. Put someone in a quiet, darkened room with no sound for long enough and they'll have an emotional response... Copyrighting a period of silence is the best joke on the commodification of expression IMO. People can cry at John Lennon's Imagine then give the finger to the next person who cuts them up at the traffic lights... It's all too human... I agree with you that people only do what works for them. Academia is a business now where you can see your tutor outside class time for 10mins if you're lucky for £9000 pa, and a job in Poundland afterwards if you're lucky. Applied Philosophy, Philosophy for the masses is sorely lacking. Hence, I celebrate the SoL because it strives to make us think about how we live, and ultimately gives us hope we can find a better way. We're all blundering in the dark, whether we see ourselves as prisoners in Plato's cave or, as a Blind Philosopher trying to figure out what he's touching. We can only ascribe to truths with the proviso that they haven't been disproved yet, as no source of knowledge can avoid bias as money talks... So for me, life is an experiment with thoughts and ideas that with evolve according to my experiences. I do what works for me and keep trying to create a good life. I found Taoist and Buddhist thought helpful and accessible. I didn't hit upon the Stoics and Marcus Aurelius until decades later but not accessible. After all, can I act as an Emperor? Whereas discussions of nature and Tai Chi on the beach bought their ideas to life. I could feel at peace for awhile before returning to the fray, strengthened and refreshed. Western Philosophy suffers from its academic abstraction, but we have also lost activities that bought it to life. It is necessary to reintroduce such activities back into everyday life, so... keep up the good work SoL!
One doesn't have to be bought to tears to feel something. Put someone in a quiet, darkened room with no sound for long enough and they'll have an emotional response... Copyrighting a period of silence is the best joke on the commodification of expression IMO. People can cry at John Lennon's Imagine then give the finger to the next person who cuts them up at the traffic lights... It's all too human... I agree with you that people only do what works for them. Academia is a business now where you can see your tutor outside class time for 10mins if you're lucky for £9000 pa, and a job in Poundland afterwards if you're lucky. Applied Philosophy, Philosophy for the masses is sorely lacking. Hence, I celebrate the SoL because it strives to make us think about how we live, and ultimately gives us hope we can find a better way. We're all blundering in the dark, whether we see ourselves as prisoners in Plato's cave or, as a Blind Philosopher trying to figure out what he's touching. We can only ascribe to truths with the proviso that they haven't been disproved yet, as no source of knowledge can avoid bias as money talks... So for me, life is an experiment with thoughts and ideas that with evolve according to my experiences. I do what works for me and keep trying to create a good life. I found Taoist and Buddhist thought helpful and accessible. I didn't hit upon the Stoics and Marcus Aurelius until decades later but not accessible. After all, can I act as an Emperor? Whereas discussions of nature and Tai Chi on the beach bought their ideas to life. I could feel at peace for awhile before returning to the fray, strengthened and refreshed. Western Philosophy suffers from its academic abstraction, but we have also lost activities that bought it to life. It is necessary to reintroduce such activities back into everyday life, so... keep up the good work SoL!
Tespri
"Current scientific method is form of philosophy."
I don't think many actual scientists think that it is, or at least are willing to publicly say or write so. There is certainly a philosophy behind science, but when asked about it most in the field take the route of 'I prefer to shut up and calculate'.
"eastern philosophy is mostly religious dogmatism... It's basically list of do and don't do."
I haven't found that to be the case...
BigHenFor
I also laud The School of Life for what they're trying to accomplish here, and I enjoy their videos. I would keep coming back if I didn't.
The best joke on the commodification of expression is copyrighting a period of silence. I agree. But it's a fairly intellectualized joke - and far removed from the experience of what the song actually sounds like. It's reflective and meta; it's not 'be here now' as the hippie Buddhists or Epicurus would have conceived it.
Intellectualization or analysis isn't wrong it's just incomplete. It can be a road to insight, or a way of avoiding insight, avoiding experience, or avoiding the body, or avoiding emotion. Some of Eastern philosophy helps one avoid that trap. Some of Western philosophy helps one recognizes the virtue of analysis, rather than its flaws.
Ya know, IMHO... :)
Tespri "can you describe how eastern philosophy has sufficiently examined its claims for answers?"
There is a form of meditation in which the student is asked to empty his mind and think of nothing at all. Just concentrate on his breathing, or a candle flame, or a repeated mantra. He tries, but finds his mind wanders. Thoughts well up out of nowhere unbidden. He asks his guru about it and is told to try again, try harder, and encouraged that he will eventually succeed and be rewarded with mystical experiences and powers. He is assured that the guru has often done so.
But try as he might he always fails; the guru always encourages more effort.
The point of this game is to realize, _without being told,_ that you _can't_ stop yourself from thinking. And if you cant stop your thoughts, what makes you think you started them in the first place? What makes you think you're in control? What makes you think they are _your_ thoughts at all?
That's a pretty serious investigation to claims of knowledge - and without ever asserting (or even mentioning) the positive truth it intends to impart. It questions more than the world around us; it questions the world within us...
I'm an SGI member and I chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. :) I have seen very positive changes in my life, my sense of self worth, and my relationships with others.
Orlando Bloom and Miranda Kerr both chant and they have had amazing experiences overcoming their obstacles. The beauty of this practice is that you don't look outside of yourself for happiness. Chanting NMRK brings out your inner wisdom, courage, and compassion so that you can overcome every obstacle in your life.
I see your point but there are some glaring omissions in the video that kind of detract from your argument:
'Eastern philosophy' is not monolithic.
There is just as much academic scholarly debate in 'Eastern philosophy' as there is in 'Western philosophy'.
Buddhism is a religion, not just a philosophy.
Miranda Kerr's 'Buddhism' is filtered through exotifying Western interpretations/marketing of the 'Eastern'.
Super like form India, but I don't think a supermodel from Australia was a good starting point.
I think Arnold Toynbee's dialog with Daisaku Ikeda was a better starting point. Or even Ikeda's (fictional) dialog with Socrates.
Or even Aldous Huxley's involvement with Eastern philosophy. Or even The Beatles for God's sake but not a fashionista!
It sends the wrong message... when I see Kerr's head popping above those photographs at 1:40, it seems as if such philosophical satisfaction is only for these rich supermodels.
***** SJWs? What are SJWs?
As someone who lives in NZ which is a western country, but brought up with hinduism, and still a believer in a lot of it's principals.... I have to say, the east vs west thing is nonsensical. They are completely different things, and also completely compatible.
Western Naturalism is about knowledge. examining the mechanical world around you to better optimise and harness the resources. It drives science, technology, and many other facets of life. It's completely bound to the reality we see.
Eastern Spiritualism is about philosophy. reflecting on your own state of mind. It's about understanding your place in the infinite cosmos, and creating your own reason of existance. It's completely abstract and intangible.
They co-exist quite beautifully.
If philosophy was about emotional releif, that would be so broing
I think that the main problem in education is that student do not feel that the stuff they learn is important, and help them with dealing their own problems. This channel offers more practical information than schools, but paradoxally that was the only thing I remember from this video. I do not even understand what is the differen between western and eastern culture.
A lot of people are referencing Alan Watts in reaction to this video and rightly so. He encapsulated the problems with western philosophy pretty well in the quote below I'd say.
"...a philosopher today is a practical fellow who comes to the university with a briefcase at 9:00 and leaves at 5:00. He 'does philosophy' during the day, which is discussing whether certain sentences have meaning and if so what, and - as William Earle said in a very funny essay - he would come to work in a white coat if he thought he could get away with it."
Perhaps this divide between Eastern and Western Philosophy is because Western Philosophy split in itself into the seeking after justifiable true beliefs and revealed truth (religion). Whereas Eastern Philosophy seems comfortable in blurring the lines between these two pursuits. It's just a hypothesis. I don't know much about Eastern Philosophy, but of what I do know, this is the sense I get.
But what exactly is western culture?
Europe.
And North America
+Alexander Demkin Why not South America?
57equilibrium Culture is much different and have different origins.
+Alexander Demkin Neither of the Americas are Western cultures. Just western societies.
Good points on the scholastic approach to philosophy taken by universities in the west which has helped create this disconnect between people and the very questions we are meant to be asking ourselves.
U can manage both but you must be very open to Eastern Spirituality otherwise you'll need western logic at every bridge you cross - i'm lucky i guess being from the West with Eastern mentors like Osho Krishamurti and Sitesh Kumar and having Sufi roots has given me a wonderful insight growing up in the West. Great work on this one you guys hit the nail on the head here! peace and love.
Middle/upper-class people sure like Eastern Philosophy. I think it's all that free time they have to actually travel and contemplate. It makes them feel superior to all those poor people out there.
idk if that's the case, there's a movement in curtain cultures like the hip-hop culture where poor black youth from new York are now speaking of these old beliefs and philosophies. it is called the beast coast movement you can look it up. but money is not the reason Westerners are seeking the East for truth and comfort.
ponyboyTrunks This is my observation from the city I live in. I have no idea about what's happening in New York, or wherever else.
I like truth and good argumentation more than wishful thinking. Sorry.
+Carlos Pérez What exactly is your point?
+Markus Reimann, philosophy is about the search of truth, but many times false things can provide comfort. Psychology may be the field that can help with that.
I think western philosophy is what eventually will make humanity travel the stars rather than sitting on my ass chanting and sipping gross tea.
***** superclusters, maybe. But I don't think it's impossible to travel to stars within our galaxy and Andromeda, and those were the ones I was referring to.
***** please, that's just alluding to an argument from ignorance. Western philosophy is the only one that has results so far. We went to the moon.
The way I see it, the East's philosophies are more popular today (aside from being trendy) because they are more practically useful. Western philosophy relies largely on a revelation to take place within the student (of a particular teaching), and this, I think, is its weakness.
Eastern philosophy stands out from its Western counterpart because its methods are far more effective in practice- it uses both the mind and the body to teach. Nobody needs to read and understand War and Peace or The Allegory of the Cave to participate in Eastern philosophy. Anybody can meditate or do basic stretches (yoga)- it usually only requires a few steps, if not in sum total then at least to begin with.
Additionally, Western philosophy has been focused around politics and religion for thousands of years, which is not what most people seek in learning to think deeply (assuming religion isn't already their philosophy).
Who wants to take up a hobby that leaves them MORE stressed? (case in point: Arthur Schopenhauer's forehead always looked like it was ready to explode from over-capacity).
Add to the fact that Nietzsche used it, good though his intentions may have been, to belittle another philosophy, and it should seem obvious why the West has failed to give people real fulfillment en masse. It's simply too neurotic, chaotic, and demanding- none of which lead to even remotely a good life.
Don't know the others but I found enlightment in Plato writings especially Phaedo and Timaeus.
I also enjoy Stoicism from Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius.
IMO our people are simply too stupid to find comfort within our own traditions.
+AquilaVictrix I wouldn't go as far as to say that people are too stupid to look; we are simply not taught to recognise that the resources are already there.
I think that 'objective' of western culture to became a rightful equal of the East is exactly what this channel pursues, and should continue to pursue.
Even my western philosophy professor is a Buddhist. If she can't apply what she studied (and teaches) in order to get a PhD into her own life, who could? Is it the material that's less relatable, or is it how it's taught? Maybe it's just the simple fact that eastern philosophy has already been shaped into a religion of sorts (and therefore readily available to become part of your life), whereas western is just a collection of ideas. I don't know. Good video nonetheless.
Not really as Eastern Philosophy is a hybrid of several different schools of thought that evolved into religions... Man, it's not easy but one can ascribe to the Philosophy but not the religion... For example, Buddha never claimed to be a deity, but after his death, his followers venerated his memory in a religious way and mashed up their cultural practices into several different strands of Buddhism. Taoism - well, we have the writings of some of the major thinkers but not much else. Zen is quintessentially a Japanese expression of Buddhism. Confucianism ... I won't go on. Safe to say, people do what works for them. Tina Turner is a SGI adherent and it worked for her. It gave her strength to change her life and leave an abusive marriage with nothing but her talent to sustain her. It worked for her, and it might work for others. What the issue is for Western Philosophy is that with its triumph over religion, it has realised that abstract truth is necessary but not sufficient to sustain the human spirit. Repeating Om myoho renge kyo is not just mumbo-jumbo. Rather, it is a practice that hacks our brains, our 'faulty walnuts' (Thanks, Alain de B!) to switch off the anxiety pathways. Over time, meditation has been shown to reshape the brain pathways promoting calm. Now Meditation and mindfulness practice is being used in the treatment of anxiety. Western Philosophy dropped the ball in moving away from helping ordinary people lead better lives. We need our philosophers and scientists to focus more on these areas
Grass is greener on the other side of the fence
Once we reach the other side we get comfortable and look across and see that
Grass is greener on the other side of the fence
This video implies that Eastern philosophy is praiseworthy for how it's not "abstract scholarship," and how the accessibility of its ideas allows it to be looked on for wisdom by more people. But this doesn't take into account how corrupt institutions and marketing are a large reason why Buddhism is more "accessible," the underlying philosophies have little to do with it, and whatever "accessibility" is added to someone's interpretation of its ideas is really a perversion. It's well and good Miranda Kerr gets into Buddhism, if the underlying philosophy is really what's giving her solace, and the marketing and "accessible wisdom" is only a function to pull people into the original philosophy, but I have heard much to the contrary regarding modern Buddhism, how it's like a sort of "church," making interpretations convenient, etc.
+Zeegoner
I think that it expresses something that we all fail to realises.
In the West Individualism is too strong and collectivism too weak.
In the East Individualism is too weak and collectivism too strong.
HOWEVER in the perfect mixture both will make a 'perfect' society or a peaceful life.
Yeah. For instance, yoga is not simply a bunch of exercises. It is an entire philosophy. As such, the exercise aspect is only one part of an eight-step process, if I'm not mistaken.
*****
I think the best example of a group of people who embrace both is Germany. They've suffered under dictators such as the Kaiser and Hitler that lead them (because they wanted to be lead.) However after that period they became more individualistic and now they've got a mix of collectivist society telling them what their place is but capitalist individuality. So they know that it isn't really a constraint rather a guideline?
***** No but I've felt like (while visiting Germany) that they're a lot more nice than my residence (while living in the Uk) and the French (According to my French teacher who's spent 30 years living there.) Furthermore Its partially because I'm influenced by School of Life's ideas because they _do_ make sense.Lastly I've studied The History of European nations mainly Germany right now and reached my own conclusions based on the evidence and believe these views are quite _true_ to some extent.
+Technocracy What? That has nothing to do with this video or my comment...
This argument makes sense only if you consciously decide to ignore "stoicism". Stoicism doesn't give you what you want to hear but the tools to get to work emotionally and physically and thrive spiritually....I guess Miranda was not interested in introspective and accountability 😂
Interesting video. I would love to see one where African, Indian, and specially American (pre-european thinking that permeates in most of Latin America) are taken into account
Eastern philosophy has its roots in India. Buddhism is Indian.
You can't find a lot in South America, most of they thinking comes from Western culture. If you really want to find something there you need to go to the deepest of the jungle and meet one of the last tribes of the world, but even then problaby is already contaminated with foreigns ideas. Or tried to learn mayan or any pre-columbian language and read they last scripts. As much I know, in many myths they said our lives comes from the gods and one day or another we should return to them as part of life. Even then the gods there never satisfied, so humans always need do ofrends to them, including self-arming and human sacrifices. They think if they don't do that the gods would get angry and punish them, maybe even destroying the world...
+Nido Hime No hermano, no sé de qué parte del mundo hispano seas, pero en México y Centroamérica el pensar del ciudadano de a pie es una combinación de las ideas precolombinas y las europeas. El sacrificio humano es una pequeñísima parte del pensar prehispánico y solo tomó relevancia durante el post clásico mesoamericano (luego de la caída de Teotihuacan). Y finalmente, no, los dioses no se enojarían y destruirían el mundo sin sangre humana, era un medio de control por las castas superiores donde y la creencia popular era que el mundo se detendría sin sangre que alimentará a los dioses. Es fácil que cualquier persona que haya estudiado a mesoamerica concuerde con esto, ya que no es mi argumento sino el de la academia. Por cierto, supongo que eres español? Solo los iberos sostienen que toda Latinoamérica está en Sudamérica.
Hugo Eder Cortés Rivera Si, soy de España, pero como he dicho apenas sé nada de la filosofía "latinoamericana", si que es que se le puede llamar asi. Después de todo no deja de tener mucha influencia del pensamiento europeo, así que tampoco está muy claro si se le puede considerar como algo independiente de este.
+Nido Hime No, no es independiente pero tampoco es sencillamente Europeo. Saludos
just writing an essay alluding to what you just said here.
boy oh boy do I love alain right now.
thank you.
this is so delicately and beautifully written
My only wonder is how does the East bring this knowledge to its people? You mentioned Universities for the West, but how does the average person access these things? How does each culture assimilate them? Philosophy is good, but governments and other institutions can and do corrupt the founding ideas (i.e. many religions are based on sound ideals, but are bent to fit the will of the one speaking). I love this channel, not perfect but the cracks make me look for more, so this is not a flame in the slightest, just curiosity.
+scarred child The proletarian will not be allowed such things. To be a worker is to live in alienation and oppression.
I found consolation in Socrates: I learned that Truth exists and that helped me A LOT to overcome personal problems. Later on, I found Christ and discovered how rich western spirituality can be through catholic monks and saints. Western traditonal philosophy and religion can help anyone who truly seeks enlightment or is lost by teaching that one need to find thyself in order to understand it's place in existence and comprehend Truth.
this "hot women that are also smart" meme needs to die
+91UnclesRemuses Why? Is it making you feel threatened? Inadequate?
I think the point about Academia removing functional ability from Western culture is another video worthy of exploration.
Magical thinking will destroy your ability to reason. I'm Buddhist, but not because of any magical teachings, but because it tells us to not believe in anything without proof. Probably depends upon which branch of the Buddhist tree you belong. Mine is philosophical, not religious.
I down voted this video because it failed to mention Christianity. Many, many people find solace in God, heaven, etc. (I don't obviously). Now some might argue that Christianity isn't a philosophy. And some might argue that Buddhism is a religion.
Whatever...both are still systems to handle problems we face in life.
And I do get solace from Nietzsche, "That which does not kill me, makes me stronger".
And finally; hippy-dippy Kerr, while beautiful, doesn't mean I'd let her give me advice.
"Miranda and the Cosmos are two sides of the same coin". Pretty words with no meaning.
Western philosophy is to me more cerebral.
Eastern philosophy is in contrast more soulful.
The two should complement each other. Instead, it’s become a binary for many people.
Hey, I'm from the east and I say that the philosophies here are complete BS and totally uncool. Give me Nietzche! Sarte!
+Saral Israel Shrestha why?
It's just two perspectives that I think in combination gives a more true view
I found solace in Hegel and I'm India. I've spent time studying the Vedanta and Buddhism but it was never fulfilling. I'm going to write a paper on Hegel, Christianity and Vedanta to unearth the Soteriological dimension in Western Philosophy.
Hegel plagiarised a lot from Indian Thought, just like many other from Europe/USA. Rajiv Malhotra has discussed this in detail ...