Table of Contents
Introduction
The meeting of Eastern and Western thought is a conversation that has shaped humanity’s intellectual and spiritual history.
From Confucius and Laozi to Plato and Kant, each tradition offers unique insights into knowledge, reality, ethics, and the self.
In this category, we explore these perspectives side-by-side — their origins, influences, and how their dialogue continues to evolve in our globalized world.
What You’ll Explore
- The contrast between individualism and collectivism
- Approaches to mind and consciousness
- Philosophy of nature: harmony vs control
- Religion, metaphysics, and spirituality in East and West
- Modern syntheses and cross-cultural exchanges
Featured Articles
Foundations
- The Roots of Western Philosophy: From Greece to Rome
- The Origins of Eastern Philosophy: India and China
- What is Taoism? An Overview
- Socrates, Confucius, and the Search for Wisdom
Themes and Contrasts
- Self and Identity: The Western ‘I’ vs Eastern ‘No-Self’
- Ethics and Society: Individual Rights vs Social Harmony
- Logic and Intuition: Reasoning in West and East
- Nature and the Cosmos: Dominion or Flow?
Spiritual and Metaphysical
- Meditation in East and West: Practices and Purposes
- The Western Idea of God and the Eastern Concept of Brahman
- The Role of Ritual in Eastern and Western Traditions
Key Philosophers & Thinkers
- Plato & Aristotle – Foundations of Western philosophy
- Confucius & Mencius – Ethical humanism in China
- Laozi & Zhuangzi – Daoist naturalism and paradox
- Immanuel Kant – Reason and morality
- Nishida Kitaro – Japanese synthesis of East-West thought
- Simone Weil – Bridging spirituality and philosophy
Quotes to Ponder
“Know thyself.”
— Delphic Maxim, Ancient Greece
“He who knows others is wise; he who knows himself is enlightened.”
— Laozi
“Man is the measure of all things.”
— Protagoras
“The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao.”
— Tao Te Ching
Related Concepts
- Philosophy of Mind: Dualism vs Non-Dualism
- Ethics: Deontology and Virtue vs Confucian Harmony
- Western Logic and Eastern Paradox
- Modern East-West Philosophical Dialogues
Podcast Feature
East Meets West
A monthly podcast interviewing scholars and spiritual teachers about bridging these traditions.
Listen here
Final Thought
Understanding East and West together reveals a richer, more nuanced human story — one where difference sparks insight and dialogue becomes a bridge.