Book Review – The Geography of Thought (Why Are Eastern and Western Ways of Thinking Different?)

This book analyzes the differences between Eastern and Western ways of thinking, explaining their origins in the historical and social background of each culture. It explores how these differences affect behavior and thinking in modern society.

 

I first tried to infer the meaning of the title The Geography of Thought. Before reading the book, the word “map” in the title made me think of a map that depicts both Eastern and Western ideas and perspectives. Just as the map represents both the East and the West, I thought that this book would be about comparing Eastern and Western ideas and understanding the differences between them. The book is about how Easterners and Westerners see and interpret the world in different ways, and how they try to bridge that distance. This is even more important today, as cultural understanding and mutual respect are essential in the modern world, where the world is rapidly becoming more connected.
The book’s introduction explains that the term “East” refers primarily to “East Asia,” that is, China and cultures heavily influenced by Chinese culture, most notably Korea and Japan. The term “West,” on the other hand, refers primarily to people of “European culture,” which includes European Americans. It also states that the phrase “European American” is used to refer to all non-Asian races in the United States. Therefore, it may be offensive to lump people together and discuss them as “Orientals,” ignoring the many cultural differences within the East. However, the reason for using this distinction is that Eastern countries are more similar to each other than Western countries. He also adds that Eastern readers may have less to learn from this book than Western readers because they are already accustomed to Western ways of thinking. With these considerations in mind, it’s important to recognize that the book can be misleading.
Chapter 1 of the book discusses the philosophical differences between ancient China and ancient Greece, using Confucius and Aristotle as classic examples of Eastern and Western thought. Here, Confucius’s emphasis on moral principles and Aristotle’s emphasis on logical thinking illustrate the fundamental differences between East and West. Chapter 2 introduces how the two cultures differ in social behavior, particularly in self-concept, and explains how these differences affect social norms and individual behavior. It also highlights that the East values relationships and context over individual roles, while the West values individual autonomy and independence.
Chapter 3 compares the holistic mindset of the East to the analytical mindset of the West. The main idea is that just as ancient Greek philosophers viewed the universe as a combination of separate and independent things, while ancient Chinese philosophers viewed the universe as one continuous substance, so do modern Easterners and Westerners. These differences still have an impact in modern society, and are reflected in the way Easterners and Westerners solve problems in education, the workplace, and everyday life.
Chapter 4 discusses the differences between Eastern and Western causal explanations. The East emphasizes situationalism, which emphasizes contextual factors, while the West emphasizes nature, which emphasizes the intrinsic characteristics of individuals. For example, it explains how Eastern and Western interpretations of the same event differ, and shows how these differences manifest themselves in causal models, hindsight effects (hindsight overconfidence bias), and more.
Chapter 5 discusses the relationship between language development and mindset. Western children tend to learn nouns faster, while Eastern children tend to learn verbs faster. It explores how these linguistic differences are closely linked to cultural differences, and how they influence the category-oriented Western mindset and the relationship-oriented Eastern mindset. This chapter specifically discusses the impact of language and culture on mindset, emphasizing that language is more than just a means of communication; it plays an important role in shaping the way we think.
Chapter 6 covers the topic of Western logic versus Eastern experience. Easterners favor compromise solutions and comprehensive arguments, and naturally accept two contradictory arguments, while Westerners adhere to the principle of non-contradiction. These differences stem from the Confucian tradition in the East and the rationalist tradition in the West, and are reflected in the way individuals and societies solve problems. This chapter explores how the philosophical traditions of the East and West continue to influence the way we think today, and discusses how different approaches can be reconciled in practice.
Chapter 7 discusses the origins of these cultural differences between East and West, or differences in mindset. In this chapter, the authors explain how the ecological, historical, and economic backgrounds of the two cultures have led to differences in mindset. It explores how the differences between the agrarian societies of the East and the commercial societies of the West influenced social structure, education, and values, and analyzes in detail how these backgrounds shaped the different mindsets of the East and West.
Chapter 8 discusses the implications of the differences between Eastern and Western mindsets for the fields of psychology, philosophy, and everyday life. The authors argue that understanding the differences between East and West is not just about satisfying intellectual curiosity, but also plays an important role in promoting mutual understanding and cooperation between different cultures. The book emphasizes the importance of cultural understanding, especially in today’s global society, and provides an opportunity for readers to reflect on their own mindset and cultural background.
The author says he was hesitant to write a book about the differences in thinking between Easterners and Westerners. The dichotomy of “East” and “West” can be particularly controversial in the racially sensitive United States. However, just as most readers of the book have said that they were able to look past these issues and embrace the book’s content, I found the various experiments fascinating. This book is not just about understanding the West, but also about reflecting on how my own mindset has been shaped. It made me think deeply about the cultural framework I live in and how it has influenced my thinking.
The question that came to mind while reading the book was, “Why are Eastern and Western mindsets different?” In the experiments presented in the book, there were many examples of the differences between Easterners and Westerners. Of course, economic and social factors played a role in shaping my personality, but I needed to explore the underlying causes of the differences. In Chapter 7, the author explains that the ecological environment of the two societies led to economic differences, which in turn led to differences in social structure. These differences in social structure created the social norms and child-rearing practices that sustained each society, which led to attention to specific parts of the environment. These different modes of attention led to different understandings of the nature of the universe, which in turn led to differences in perception and thought processes.
The most interesting part of the book was the chapter 4 on Eastern situationalism and Western nature theory, where the results of an experiment showed that American college students attach more importance to the personal attributes of a murderer and Chinese students attach more importance to situational variables. The results of this experiment made me realize that I myself tend to blame situations rather than personal attributes when something happens. This, I thought, meant that I had an Eastern mindset.