Assignment:
Most students read this chapter and realize two things: first, that they don't know as much about other cultures as they thought they knew, and, second, while there are differences between cultures and traditions, there are surprising similarities as well.
In a well-organized essay, address the following:
- While reading about any of the non-Western traditions, identify at least three traditions that you mentally compared to some theory in Western philosophy? How are they similar?
- Identify which features of these two traditions you saw as non-comparable. How are the two traditions different? If you had grown up in the non-Western culture, do you think you would prefer these two traditions over the ones to which you have been enculturated in our Western society? Why or why not?
- When you consider that Asian philosophy predates Western philosophy and religion, why do you think that it was not more influential on Western thinking?
- How has noting and writing about the comparisons change your opinion concerning the non-Western traditions? If your opinion has not changed, explain why you think it has not changed.
Write your answer in 500 to 750 words.