Non-Western Philosophy

Watch

• Plato’s best (and worst) ideas - Wisecrack ↗TED-Ed
• The philosophy of Stoicism - Massimo Pigliucci ↗TED-Ed
• Six Ideas From Eastern Philosophy ↗The School of Life

Read

• The Analects ↗An indispensable primer on Confucian ethics and political thought, offering timeless insights into moral cultivation and societal harmony.Confucius
• Tao Te Ching ↗This enigmatic classic of Daoism provides a profound meditation on the nature of reality, governance, and the path to inner peace through effortless action.Laozi
• What the Buddha Taught ↗A lucid and authoritative exposition of the core tenets of Theravada Buddhism, essential for understanding its philosophical underpinnings and practical applications.Walpola Rahula
• The Bhagavad Gita ↗This pivotal Hindu scripture explores duty, devotion, and the nature of the self amidst existential conflict, offering profound spiritual and ethical guidance.Vyasa
• African Philosophy: Myth and Reality ↗A foundational critique of ethnophilosophy, this work rigorously defines the scope and methodology of African philosophy as a scientific discourse.Paulin J. Hountondji
• How Not to Compare African Thought with Western ThoughtThis incisive essay cautions against simplistic comparative methodologies, advocating for a nuanced understanding of African philosophical traditions on their own terms.Kwasi Wiredu

Voices to follow

• Kwame Anthony Appiah ↗A leading voice on identity, morality, and cosmopolitanism, his work bridges Western and African philosophical traditions with elegant clarity.Professor of Philosophy and Law, New York University
• Amartya Sen ↗A towering intellect whose work on justice, development, and welfare economics is deeply informed by Indian philosophical thought, offering a vital non-Western lens on global challenges.Thomas W. Lamont University Professor, Harvard University; Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences
• Bryan W. Van Norden ↗A leading advocate for the inclusion of Chinese philosophy in the Western canon, he illuminates ancient texts with contemporary relevance and scholarly rigour.Professor of Philosophy, Vassar College
• Peter Adamson ↗Through his prolific scholarship and popular podcast, he has made Islamic and other non-Western philosophical traditions remarkably accessible and intellectually engaging to a global audience.Professor of Late Ancient and Arabic Philosophy, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich
• Jay L. Garfield ↗A preeminent scholar of Buddhist philosophy, he expertly navigates complex Eastern thought, fostering cross-cultural dialogue and challenging Western philosophical assumptions.Doris Silbert Professor in the Humanities, Smith College; Professor of Philosophy, University of Melbourne

Glossary

• AhimsaAhimsa is the principle of non-violence and respect for all living things, a core idea in many Indian philosophies like Jainism, Hinduism, and Buddhism. It means not harming any creature, physically or mentally. For example, choosing not to step on an ant or speaking kindly instead of yelling at someone are ways to practice Ahimsa.
• BuddhismBuddhism is a philosophy and religion that started in India, teaching that suffering comes from desire and can be overcome by following a path of wisdom, kindness, and meditation. It aims for inner peace and enlightenment. For example, practicing mindfulness by focusing on your breath during a stressful exam can be a small step in applying Buddhist principles to find calm.
• ConfucianismConfucianism is a system of beliefs from ancient China that focuses on good morals, respect for family and elders, and creating a harmonious society. It teaches how people should behave towards each other. For example, always listening to your parents and showing respect to older people in your community is a key part of Confucian teachings.
• DharmaDharma refers to your duty, purpose, or the right way to live according to your role in life and the universe. It's about living ethically and doing what's right. For example, a student's dharma is to study hard and respect their teachers, while a parent's dharma is to care for their children.
• KarmaKarma is the idea that every action you take, good or bad, will eventually come back to you in some way, shaping your future experiences. It's like a cosmic cause and effect. For example, if you always help your friends, good things might happen to you later, like someone helping you when you need it.
• NirvanaNirvana is a state of perfect peace and freedom from suffering, desires, and the cycle of rebirth, often sought in Buddhism and Hinduism. It's like reaching ultimate happiness and calm. For example, someone who has let go of all their worries and is completely content, even when things are tough, might be experiencing a moment of nirvana.
• SamsaraSamsara is the continuous cycle of birth, life, death, and rebirth that many Eastern philosophies believe all living beings go through. It's like a journey where your actions in one life affect your next. For example, if you believe in Samsara, you might think that a kind person in this life could be reborn into a better situation in their next life.
• Tao (Dao)The Tao, pronounced "Dow," is a central idea in Chinese philosophy, meaning "the Way" or the natural order of the universe. It suggests living in harmony with nature and going with the flow of life. For example, instead of fighting against a strong current in a river, following the Tao would mean letting the current guide you and finding peace in that movement.
• Yin and YangYin and Yang are two opposite but connected forces in Chinese philosophy that exist in everything. Yin is dark, passive, and feminine, while Yang is light, active, and masculine, and they balance each other out. For example, the sun is Yang and the moon is Yin; they are different but both needed for a complete day and night cycle.
• ZenZen is a school of Buddhism that emphasizes meditation and intuition to achieve enlightenment, rather than just studying scriptures. It focuses on direct experience and living in the present moment. For example, sitting quietly and focusing only on your breathing for a few minutes to clear your mind is a simple form of Zen meditation.

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Where this connects to other fields, and why it's worth knowing.

• Motivation & Behaviour Change Psychology

  Ancient Daoist thinkers praised 'wu wei,' meaning action so smooth it feels effortless, like you're not even trying. Centuries later psychologists studying peak performance found the same state and called it 'flow.' The best moments often come from getting out of your own way, an idea two very different worlds landed on separately.

• Consciousness & the Self Psychology

  Buddhists said 2,500 years ago that the solid 'you' inside your head is basically an illusion. Modern brain scientists went looking for the spot where 'you' live, the control room, the little person at the center, and never found one. An ancient meditation claim and a modern brain scan landed on the same strange answer.

• Logic, Proof & Verification Mathematics

  Western logic long insisted every statement is either true or false, full stop. But centuries earlier, Jain thinkers in India built a system with seven values, including careful shades of 'maybe' and 'it depends on how you look.' They were doing 'in-between' logic long before Western math would even allow a maybe to exist.