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Socrates and Zen. Socrates and Zen The differences between Eastern and Western
philosophies are very pronounced. Western mentality ...
Submitted by cmd34 on September 24, 2006
Category: Philosophy
Words: 1672 | Pages: 7
Views: 221
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Socrates and Zen
The differences between Eastern and Western philosophies are very pronounced. Western mentality is generally based upon a rational, ordered system of categories that encourage the continual search for truth and knowledge through science or religion. Conversely, Eastern mentality maintains that life is a journey towards self-discovery of oneself and the unexplainable universe. However the drastic divide between Eastern and Western thoughts may not have always been so dramatic. Despite the many differences between contemporary Western and Eastern philosophy, there is a major resemblance between the beliefs and methods of Socrates, the father of Western philosophy, and the Eastern philosophy of Zen Buddhism.
In Plato’s Republic, Socrates explained that the world is divided into the visible and intelligible world. The visible world includes everything that we understand through our senses and the intelligible world can be attained through our innate knowledge of the Forms. Socrates explained that the Forms are unchanging and absolute entities, which are the only objects of true knowledge. The perfect and natural image of the Forms is what causes one’s perception of objects in the visible world. In other worlds, an orange in the visual world is merely a reflection of the perfect Forms of Orangeness, Roundness, and Juiciness. Above all, the Form of Good is the Form that creates all other Forms and is the source of genuine knowledge and truth. Although Socrates could not explicitly describe the Form of Good, he believed the Form of Good is the highest degree of cognitive understanding and the ultimate object in our search for knowledge.
Zen Buddhism is a practice originally observed in China and can be considered a philosophy, religion, or simply a way of life. Zen aims at achieving a particular state of mind called enlightenment. Enlightenment entails the removal of oneself from all worldly distinctions. Once...
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