In this blog post, based on The Geography of Thought, we examine the differences in Eastern and Western ways of thinking and explore how these differences influence each culture’s values and social behavior.
I first pondered the meaning of the title ‘The Geography of Thought’. The first image that came to mind was that it might be a kind of ‘map of the mind’, visually representing the ways of thinking in different cultural spheres, much like how a map shows geographical boundaries. Before reading the book, the title led me to guess its content would explore Eastern and Western thought. Just as a map shows diverse terrains and boundaries, I anticipated the book would compare the different ways of thinking and perspectives in the East and West, exploring their differences and similarities.
Through the book’s preface, I gained a clearer understanding of how the concepts of ‘East’ and ‘West’ are defined. Here, the term ‘East’ primarily refers to ‘East Asia’—namely China and the cultures heavily influenced by it, such as Korea and Japan—while ‘West’ signifies the European cultural sphere, including ‘European Americans’. The author acknowledged the risk of generalization inherent in these definitions. Nevertheless, they explained that this binary distinction was used because the two cultural spheres share significant internal similarities. He specifically warns that Eastern readers may gain relatively less from this book, as Eastern cultures are already quite familiar with Western modes of thought compared to Western cultures. This made me realize that while Western readers might gain fresh insights into Eastern thought through this book, Eastern readers might find much of the content already somewhat familiar. Therefore, I felt it necessary to keep this in mind when approaching the book.
Chapter 1 introduces the philosophical differences between ancient China and ancient Greece, citing Confucius and Aristotle as archetypal examples of Eastern and Western thought. Here, I found myself intrigued by how the philosophies of Confucius and Aristotle influenced the modern ways of thinking in both Eastern and Western cultures. Both philosophers played central roles in their respective cultures, and I thought it was important to understand how their ideas are reflected in modern ways of thinking. Chapter 2 introduces how the two cultures differ in social behavior, particularly in self-concept. It compares how Easterners and Westerners define themselves and what roles they perform within society, examining the contrasting approaches of the two cultures to the relationship between the individual and society.
Chapter 3 compares Eastern holistic thinking with Western analytical thinking. It highlights a difference still evident between modern Easterners and Westerners: while ancient Greek philosophers viewed the universe as a combination of individual, independent things, ancient Chinese philosophers regarded it as a single continuous substance. This section also made me recall differences in Eastern and Western ways of thinking I’ve experienced in daily life. For example, in the East, there is a strong tendency to understand a situation holistically, whereas in the West, an approach that analyzes and solves problems in parts is more common. I felt this was not merely a difference in thinking styles but was deeply rooted in the historical background and social structures that shaped each culture.
Chapter 4 addresses differences between East and West in causal explanations, the fundamental attribution error, causal models, and hindsight bias, explaining how Eastern cultures emphasize situational factors while Western cultures prioritize inherent traits. In this chapter, I learned that Easterners’ thinking is more situation-based, leading them to be less individualistic than Westerners when judging personal behavior or achievements. This was thought to stem from Eastern societies’ cultural background, which values group harmony and cooperation.
Chapter 5 begins by noting that while Western children learn nouns faster, Eastern children also value verbs, explaining the difference between the West’s emphasis on categories and the East’s emphasis on relationships. What was particularly interesting in this chapter was that cultural differences are not simply due to linguistic differences, but that these linguistic differences also deeply influence ways of thinking.
The fact that Eastern children learn more relationship-centered thinking due to linguistic structure was fascinating. Chapter 6, under the theme of Western logic versus Eastern experience, emphasizes that Easterners prefer compromise-based solutions and holistic arguments, naturally accepting two seemingly contradictory claims. Conversely, Westerners, adhering to the principle of non-contradiction, generally pursue logically consistent conclusions. In this section, I recognized that I myself possess an Eastern mindset. In daily life, I tended to accept both conflicting opinions and seek a compromise. Chapter 7 delves deeply into the origins of the differences in Eastern and Western ways of thinking.
Here, I resonated with the explanation of how the ecological environments and economic structures of the two societies influenced each culture’s way of thinking. The author emphasized that the differences between the two cultures stem not merely from philosophical traditions but also from historical, social, and economic backgrounds. In this sense, I realized that my own way of thinking had also been naturally formed within Eastern culture.
Chapter 8 addresses how the differences in Eastern and Western ways of thinking impact psychology, philosophy, and daily life, reiterating why understanding cultural differences is crucial. Through this book, I progressed beyond merely understanding Western culture to gaining a new perspective on my own Eastern culture. The most fascinating chapter for me was Chapter 4, which explored Eastern situationalism versus Western essentialism. The experiments discussed in this chapter, particularly the one demonstrating how Easterners and Westerners differ in explaining a murderer’s actions, left the deepest impression. Through this experiment, I realized I too tend to prioritize context over personal attributes. This was a significant discovery, revealing that the mindset formed during my upbringing was shaped under the influence of Eastern culture.
The latter part of the book goes beyond simply comparing Eastern and Western thought patterns, explaining how these differences relate to the concept of cultural relativism. The author emphasizes that the two cultures need to be understood as mutually complementary, and that this process requires abandoning narrow perspectives and approaching them with a more open mind. Through this book, I gained a profound realization of how deeply my own way of thinking was shaped by my cultural background. Furthermore, the book goes beyond merely explaining differences between East and West; it provides readers with an opportunity for self-reflection. Reading The Geography of Thought prompted me to contemplate the process by which my own thinking was formed, enabling me to view my own mindset more objectively.
Beyond merely highlighting differences in Eastern and Western thought, this book itself became a crucial catalyst for contemplating how each individual can understand themselves and embrace other cultures. Furthermore, I realized that the importance of cultural mutual understanding emphasized by the author is a concept that shines even brighter in modern society. The author’s message resonated strongly: the differences between East and West are not a matter of superiority, but should be seen as an opportunity to provide richer perspectives through mutual understanding and respect.
