A Study of Western Thinkers’ Approach to Eastern Philosophy

The discussion of the meaning and existence of philosophy in the East is considered to be an introduction to any exchange of thought and agreement between the East and the West. Ritchie, the Christian missionary, wrote a book entitled Confucius: The Chinese Philosopher and introduced his thoughts to the West for the first time. Later and under his influence, Leibniz and Christian Wolf not only acknowledged the certain existence of philosophy in the East, particularly in China, but also believed that it could be used to remove the existing problems in Western philosophy and theology. However, Kant initiated a racist approach in this regard that dealt with other philosophies from a higher position and questioned the very essence of philosophy in the East altogether. This Europe-centered view entered a new era in the West with Hegel, whose view of eastern philosophy was humiliating and hierarchical. Unlike him, Deussen, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, Husserl, Wittgenstein, Heidegger, and many other Western thinkers benefitted from the vast philosophy of the East. Generally speaking, it can be said that denying or doubting the legitimacy of Eastern philosophy on the part of some Westerners lacks logical support and is mainly rooted in their nationalist feelings. The reaction of Eastern thinkers in this regard is also noteworthy. Some of them complain that Western philosophers do not appreciate Eastern philosophy as much as it truly deserves and do not use it in order to solve the crises that contemporary Man encounters. However, some others, in line with Westerners but with a different motive, refuse to apply the word philosophy to their ancient legacy in order to protect its originality and safeguard against its mixture with Western philosophy.