How did the difference between Eastern and Western ways of thinking come about, and why do we need to understand and accept it?

“The Geography of Thought” compares the differences between Eastern and Western ways of thinking, exploring the philosophical, psychological, and linguistic background of each culture. The author emphasizes the importance of cultural relativism, and that understanding and accepting these differences is essential in the modern world.

 

I first pondered the meaning of the title ‘The Geography of Thought’. The first image that came to mind was a kind of “map of the mind,” a visual representation of the mindset of different cultures, just as a map represents geographical boundaries. Before reading the book, I assumed from the title that it would be an exploration of Eastern and Western thought. Just as a map shows different terrains and boundaries, I expected the book to compare the different mindsets and perspectives of the East and West and explore their differences and similarities.
The introduction to the book gave me a clearer understanding of how the concepts of ‘East’ and ‘West’ are defined. It states that the term “East” refers primarily to “East Asia,” i.e., China and its heavily influenced cultures, Korea and Japan, and “West” refers to European cultures, including “European Americans. While the authors acknowledge that these definitions are prone to generalization, they nonetheless use this dichotomy because of the many internal similarities between the two cultures. In particular, he warns that Eastern readers may have less to gain from this book than Western readers because Eastern cultures are already quite accustomed to Western ways of thinking. This made me think that while Western readers may gain a new understanding of Eastern ways of thinking from this book, Eastern readers may already be familiar with some of the material, so I felt it was necessary to approach the book with this in mind.
Chapter 1 introduces the philosophical differences between ancient China and ancient Greece, using Confucius and Aristotle as typical examples of Eastern and Western thought. I was intrigued by how the philosophies of Confucius and Aristotle have influenced the mindsets of modern Easterners and Westerners. Both philosophers played a central role in their respective cultures, and I thought it was important to understand how their ideas have been reflected in the modern mindset. Chapter 2 introduces how the two cultures differ in social behavior, especially in self-concept. It compares how Easterners and Westerners define themselves and their roles in society, examining their contrasting approaches to the relationship between the individual and society.
Chapter 3 compares Eastern holistic thinking with Western analytical thinking. It emphasizes that ancient Greek philosophers conceived of the universe as a combination of separate and independent objects, while ancient Chinese philosophers viewed the universe as one continuous substance, a difference that still exists between modern Easterners and Westerners. This reminded me of the differences between Eastern and Western ways of thinking that I have experienced in my daily life. For example, in the East, there is a strong tendency to understand a situation as a whole, while in the West, the approach of analyzing and solving problems in parts is more common. I realized that this is not just a difference in mindset, but is deeply rooted in the historical background and social structure of each culture.
Chapter 4 covers East-West differences in causal explanations, basic attributional fallacies, causal models, and guardianship effects, and explains the difference in emphasis on contextualism in the East and natureism in the West. In this chapter, I learned that Easterners tend to be less individualistic than Westerners when judging individual behavior and performance, in that their mindset is more context-based. This is thought to stem from Eastern societies’ cultural emphasis on group harmony and cooperation.
Chapter 5 explains the differences between the West’s emphasis on categories and the East’s emphasis on relationships, starting with the difference between Western children learning nouns faster, while Eastern children also value verbs. What I found particularly interesting about this chapter is that cultural differences aren’t just about language, but that these linguistic differences have a profound impact on the way we think. It was fascinating to learn that the reason why children in the East learn to think more relationally is due to linguistic structures.
Chapter 6, Western Logic and Eastern Experience, emphasizes that Easterners prefer compromise solutions and comprehensive arguments, and are naturally inclined to accept two seemingly contradictory arguments. Westerners, on the other hand, are loyal to the principle of non-contradiction, which means that they typically seek logically consistent conclusions. In this respect, I have come to recognize that I myself have an Eastern mindset. In my daily life, I tend to accept both conflicting opinions and try to find a compromise.
In Chapter 7, I discuss in depth where the differences between Eastern and Western mindsets come from. Here, I resonated with the explanation of how the ecological environment and economic structure of both societies influenced the mindset of each culture. The author emphasizes that the differences between the two cultures are not just due to philosophical traditions, but also stem from historical, social, and economic backgrounds. In this respect, I realized that my way of thinking was also naturally shaped by the Eastern culture.
Chapter 8 discusses how the differences between Eastern and Western ways of thinking affect psychology, philosophy, and everyday life, emphasizing once again why it is important to understand cultural differences. This book helped me to not only understand Western culture, but also to see my own Eastern culture in a new light. One of the most interesting chapters in the book for me was Chapter 4, Situationism in the East and Natureism in the West. I was most impressed by the experiments discussed in this chapter, especially the one that showed how Easterners and Westerners differ in the way they explain the behavior of murderers. Through this experiment, I realized that I myself tend to attach more importance to situations than to individual attributes, which is an important discovery that shows that my upbringing has been influenced by Eastern culture.
The second half of the book goes beyond simply comparing the differences between Eastern and Western mindsets and explains how these differences relate to the concept of cultural relativism. The author emphasizes that both cultures need to be understood as complementary to each other, and in doing so, we need to abandon narrow perspectives and approach them with a more open mind. This book made me deeply realize how much my own way of thinking has been shaped by my cultural background. It also goes beyond simply explaining the differences between the East and the West, and gives the reader the opportunity to reflect on their own. Reading The Geography of Thought made me reflect on how my mindset has been shaped, which in turn allowed me to look at my own mindset more objectively.
The book itself is an important reminder to think beyond the differences in mindset between East and West, and how each individual can understand themselves and accept other cultures. The author’s emphasis on the importance of cultural mutual understanding is a concept that is even more relevant in the modern world. The author’s message that the differences between East and West should not be seen as a matter of superiority, but rather as an opportunity to provide a richer perspective through mutual understanding and respect resonated strongly with me.