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The Geography of Thought: How Asians and Westerners Think Differently … and Why by Richard Nisbett [in Christian Science Monitor]

Geography of ThoughtAccording to Richard Nisbett in The Geography of Thought: How Asians and Westerners Think Differently … and Why, the origins of East/West differences go back 2,500 years. His opening chapter explains that Greeks promoted personal agency, which valued individual identity, a sense of debate, and a curiosity about nature. The Chinese, meanwhile, espoused collective agency, which valued harmony and the Middle Way, avoided confrontation but lacked wonder in nature. “The lack of wonder among the Chinese is especially remarkable,” Nisbett adds, as if to excuse the Chinese, “in light of the fact that Chinese civilization far outdistanced Greek civilization technologically.”

The next chapter scans 2-1/2 centuries for explanations of the differences between East and West. In short, the original physical surroundings determined agricultural and therefore economic infrastructures, which resulted in the establishment of social structures, leading to different ways of thinking. And that brings us to those “remarkable” differences: …[click here for more]

Review:Christian Science Monitor, April 3, 2003

Readers: Adult

Published: 2003

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