Eastern and Western Philosophy

Philosophy is divided into two very broad categories, Eastern Philosophy and Western Philosophy. Eastern philosophy mainly encompasses Asian philosophies such as the Indian philosophies of Hinduism and Buddhism. The Japanese philosophies of Zen Buddhism, the samurai tradition and the Chinese philosophies of Confucianism, Taoism and Ch’an Buddhism (Moore&Bruder, 2008, p. 525). Western Philosophy is older and generally divided into groups based on a progression of years as opposed to specific regions.   An example of this would be Modern Philosophy and Renaissance Philosophy.
I believe that Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, also known as Mahatma Gandhi, is a very compelling philosopher.   He is an Eastern philosopher known almost anywhere in the world for his use of nonviolent ways to help attain political freedom for India and for striving to instill a sense of self-respect in all of us as human beings.   One of Mahatma Gandhi’s main ideas was what it known as Satyagraha, which is the use of non-violent civil disobedience as opposed to any form of violence to resist domination and tyranny. This idea not only led to India’s independence but it also inspired movements of freedom and civil rights around the world.   Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr led a non-violent civil rights movement that was inspired by Gandhi. Mahatma Gandhi’s ideas of non-violent resistance are so widely known and accepted that the United Nations General Assembly has dedicated October 2nd as the annual International Day of Non-Violence (UN News Centre, 2007).   In enacting this day it is one of the best ways to show how his peaceful loving ways of life and the influence it has had on the rest of the world.
Soren Kierkegaard, a Western Philosopher, believed in existentialism.   This is to mean that he believed that the focus of philosophical thought should be focused on an individual person and their emotions, actions, responsibilities, and thoughts.   Soren Kierkegaard believed that it is solely the...