Western Tradition Research Articles

Panchakosha: Foundations for Holistic Child Development

The Panchakosha theory, a cornerstone of ancient wisdom, offers a comprehensive framework for understanding the multifaceted nature of human beings emphasizing the nurturing of all five layers of being. This theory's application in education can revolutionize the way we approach child development, integrating the physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual dimensions. By incorporating elements such as Yoga Nidra, meditation, yoga philosophy, and mindful nutrition, educators can foster holistic growth in children and instill valuable social and personal disciplines promoting better concentration, calmness, and improved learning and memory. Educational philosophies from both Eastern and Western traditions, including contributions from notable thinkers, shape diverse and effective teaching methods. This article delves into the practical ways in which the Panchakosha Theory can be applied to education, offering insights into yogic practices, storytelling, and pedagogical strategies that align with both Eastern and Western educational philosophies.

Reasoning involves individuality: an inquiry into divination practice in early China

ABSTRACT In the common sense of the term, reasoning is defined as thinking in a logical and sensible manner that justifies one’s actions. Within the Western tradition, it is generally associated with formal rules, where the structure of reasoning guarantees the validity of an inference. This involves a particular approach that treats human cognition as though it results from mere computation, such that any correct inference must be true for anyone in particular circumstances. However, recent advances in cognitive sciences have demonstrated that one is always embedded in contexts that influence one’s cognitive abilities. This study elaborates on the authors’ interdisciplinary research in philosophy, anthropology, and cognitive science, with the aim of providing a naturalistic explanation of the origin and development of human consciousness. Here, we review the anthropological data provided by studies concerning divination practices in early China, in light of the modern scientific framework. We highlight a particular similarity between these two conceptual systems and argue that both imply a high degree of individuality in the suggested modes of reasoning. The provided synthesis reveals some basal modes of cognition that are shared by all humans and that underlie any culture. This contributes to cross-cultural studies and mutual understanding.

Exploring Consciousness: An Indian Philosophical Perspective

Consciousness, a derivative of Latin word conscius (con- “together” and “scio” “to know”). In Simple terms it is awareness of internal and external existence. However, even now, defining consciousness remains a difficult Endeavor. Its nature has led to millennia of analyses, explanations, and debate by various philosophers. In the Western tradition, consciousness is basically a function of brain. In fact, it characterized psychology as a science of consciousness when it first emerged as a discipline in the latter half of the nineteenth century. In Indian philosophy, the study of consciousness is a basic component of the human experience that offers profound insights into the nature of the self, the cosmos, and life. According to Indian traditions, consciousness is a far broader idea that permeates the entire universe and is not just confined to human experience. It describes consciousness as an underlying, timeless principle that serves as the foundation for existence and the lens through which we perceive the universe. It is an innate, immutable principle that exists outside of the mental and physical domains. It Sees consciousness as a universal, all-pervading force that shapes and informs the very fabric of existence. The various viewpoints on consciousness including its philosophical, ethical, and spiritual aspects, are examined in this article. The essay offers Rich and varied viewpoints on consciousness provided by Indian philosophical traditions, emphasizing its essential, non-material character as well as its relationship to the self and the universe. Indian philosophies describe consciousness as an underlying, timeless principle that serves as the foundation for existence and the lens through which we perceive the universe, in contrast to Western perspectives that frequently reduce consciousness to brain activity.

El arte del contrapunto y la paradoja. Imágenes artísticas de Juan Fernando Herrán, Juan Manuel Echavarría, Clemencia Echeverri, Óscar Muñoz y Doris Salcedo como <i>mementos</i> poético-políticos contemporáneos

This article investigates the fact that alongside their concerns with understanding and confronting traumatic situations in their geographical and historical environments, Juan Fernando Herrán, Juan Manuel Echavarría, Clemencia Echeverri, Óscar Muñoz, and Doris Salcedo coincide in alluding in their works to existential and symbolic dimensions linked to vital and natural cycles. These dimensions suggest significant connections with works and theoretical approaches of previous centuries of the Western tradition, in which special emphasis was placed on the finite conditions of human existence. Such an emphasis simultaneously allowed for an awareness of inexorable aspects of the destiny of every living being and of the possible agency that each being can enjoy during his or her existence.

Cultural Heritage and Chinese Digital Games

Abstract Digital games history has been dominated by Japan, North America, and Europe, both as major producers and consumers of games. However, China is now by far the largest digital games market on the planet, both in terms of player numbers and expenditure. This exceptional growth is naturally reflected in the local production of games, which, despite their large numbers and player base, are only now having more resonance in the West. This paper examines what role Chinese cultural heritage plays in the characterization of its games, as well as the similarities and differences with the Western and Japanese traditions of game arts and development, both from a ludological and aesthetic point of view, with a focus on the role-playing genre.

A Philosophy of Constancy in Change: Reading Gadamer in Light of Fundamental Themes in Chung-Ying Cheng

Abstract The Western tradition of metaphysics has been criticized by Chung-ying Cheng on the grounds that it does not have any fruitful bearing on practice. This judgement, however, depends on a concept of metaphysics that Gadamer overturns with a Pythagorean-Platonic ontology. When this side of his philosophy is developed in tandem with Cheng’s onto-generative hermeneutics, in particular its doctrine of harmonization, new possibilities for self-understanding in relation to the grounds of existence are charted: The event of Being emerges from the reciprocity of rhythm in a dialogue self-similar to the rhythms of nature grasped by Cheng in terms of yin and yang. This consolidates a cross-fertilization between Cheng and Gadamer on the trans-historical foundations of hermeneutics.

Dragon Images in Japanese Culture: Genesis and Semantics

The article deals with the genesis, semantics, and functions of the dragon image in Japanese culture. The relevance of the study is due to the increased attention of researchers to the basic values of local cultures, issues of symbolism, inextricably linked to the problems of national self-identification. The methodological basis of the study is the structural-semiotic approach, which was used to analyze the value content of the dragon image, the descriptive-analytical method, and the method of cognitive interpretation of the semantics of linguistic means verbalizing the dragon image in the Japanese language. In contrast to the Western tradition, in the culture of the peoples of East Asia, a dragon is a revered and significant symbol of power, strength, and authority.Stories about dragons are found in ancient texts of both Hinduism and Buddhism. It is established that the formation and evolution of the dragon cult in Japan was influenced by the mythical Chinese dragons, Indian Naga snakes, and the belief in dragons as deities of the water element. The author examines the genesis and evolution of the dragon image in different historical epochs, the influence of cultural-historical, natural, and religious factors on its transformation. It is shown that, in medieval Japan, the dragon was considered the protector of Buddhism, personifying strength, wisdom, prosperity, good luck, and images of these mythical creatures became an organic element of Buddhist culture. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of the image of the dragon as a sign of the Chinese zodiacal calendar, the representations of dragons in Japanese mythology, fairy tales and legends, in Hitachi Fudoki, Kojiki, Nihon Shoki. In the mythological picture of the world of the Japanese, the dragon is ambivalent and has both positive and negative features.It is revealed that the image of the dragon occupies an important place in Japanese traditional culture, painting, architecture, arts and crafts, calendar holidays, is widely represented in proverbs and sayings, set phrases and idioms. The reference to Japanese phraseology allowed to expand the base of the study and to reveal the totality of ideas about the dragon in the worldview of native speakers of the Japanese language. The author concludes that, nowadays, the image of the dragon in Japan has lost its sacral significance and is mainly used as tribute to tradition.

Outstanding Beauty: Study of Publicity Translation and Cultural Diplomatic Value in the Internationalization of Domestic Cosmetic Brands

This study delves into the translation strategies employed in the export process of Chinese-style cosmetics, with a primary focus on how these strategies facilitate cultural communication. Emphasis is placed on ensuring accurate and culturally adaptive translation of product packaging, which plays a pivotal role in establishing and maintaining brand cultural identity in international markets. In particular, the proposal of naming lipstick shades after literary works—linking both Chinese and Western literary traditions—demonstrates a novel approach to fostering cross-cultural exchange through product exports. Additionally, marketing strategies are explored, showcasing how this differentiation not only enhances cultural relevance but also strengthens consumer emotional connections. Case studies of TIMAGE and Proya serve to evaluate brand performance in cross-cultural communication, offering valuable insights for the international promotion of Chinese-style cosmetics. The findings of this study suggest innovative directions for combining translation and marketing strategies to further cultural exchange and brand growth globally.

Exploring the Characteristics of Modern Korean Buddhist Education: Focusing on the Religious Studies Lecture Notes from the Buddhist Central Seminary (Pulgyo Chungang Hangnim, 佛敎中央學林)

This study examines the identity and characteristics of modern Korean Buddhist education through an analysis of the religious studies lecture notes of a student from the Buddhist Central Seminary (Pulgyo Chungang Hangnim, 佛敎中央學林), preserved at Songgwang-sa Temple. Established in 1915 and operating until 1919, the seminary introduced a significant shift from traditional scripture-centered monastic education to a modern academic system. Western and Japanese academic traditions, religious studies, philosophy, and the general educational system influenced its curriculum. The lecture notes provide insight into the adoption of modern academic disciplines within Korean Buddhist education, revealing the influence of Japanese religious studies and Western comparative religion. They also demonstrate the possibility of early introduction of religious studies as an educational field in Korea. The seminary played a dual role as a hub for national education and reflection of the colonial context, embodying the complexities of nationalism and colonial influence during Japanese occupation. This study underscores the need for further scholarly exploration to understand the multifaceted nature of modern Korean Buddhist education and its unique role within the broader historical context of East Asian Buddhist history.

Review Essay: Postanthropocentric Political Theories

At least since Aristotle defined human beings as “political animals,” politics in the Western tradition has largely been defined in anthropocentric terms. Politics was a realm of distinctively human endeavors, while nonhuman nature remained outside. Nature might impinge on or set limits to political action, but was conceived as constitutively outside of politics. However else nonhuman entities might engage with humans or each other, these relations or engagements were not understood as political. Until quite recently, Western political theory was decidedly anthropocentric. The rise of environmental problematics, and particularly the political salience of the global climate crisis, however, have made the idea of a constitutive separation between (nonhuman) nature and (human) politics less tenable. Not only the material manipulation of the nonhuman world, but also its conceptual framing, are increasingly understood as political projects.1 At the same time, Western political thought has become increasingly open to non-Western cosmologies that do not posit a rigid divide between human and non- (or more-than-) human worlds. Environmental (or green) political theory has become an increasingly robust subdiscipline,2 and political theory, like a number of other humanities disciplines, has undergone an “animal turn.”3 Three of the four recent books under consideration form part of this latter animal turn while Sharon Krause’s Eco-Emancipation is firmly situated in the field of environmental political theory.

The Possibilities of Dialogue on the Filioque in the Context of the Current Situation of Orthodoxy

This article examines the theological and historical implications of the Filioque doctrine within the context of contemporary Orthodox- Catholic dialogue, emphasizing its relevance amid the current challenges facing Orthodoxy, including ecclesiastical and political divisions. It traces the evolution of the Filioque controversy, highlighting key theological contributions from Orthodox scholars such as Vladimir Lossky and Dumitru Stăniloae and their perspectives on Orthodoxy’s identity. The paper discusses the Filioque’s impact on ecumenical efforts, noting the divergence in approaches between Orthodox and Western traditions. Furthermore, it explores the influence of nationalism and geopolitical conflicts, particularly the Russian-Ukrainian war, on inter-Orthodox relations and their effect on broader ecumenical dialogues. The article concludes by proposing that while institutional dialogue may be hindered by these crises, academic and theological exchanges remain vital for fostering understanding and advancing unity. Article history: Received 10.11.2024; Revised 01.11.2024; Accepted 11.11.2024. Available online: 11.01.2025; Available print: 30.01.2025.

The artistic image of Macau in the process of interaction between Eastern and Western cultures

The topic of the research is the artistic image of Macau in the process of interaction between Eastern and Western cultures. The object of the research is the stages of formation of this image, starting with traditional art, modern artistic image and development of public artistic practices. The study of the evolution of the artistic image of Macau through the analysis of works of Chinese and Western artists allows us to demonstrate how the interaction of cultures influences the formation of a unique artistic image of the region. The methodological basis of the work was the historical-biographical and comparative-historical approaches. The historical-biographical method allows us to focus on the influence of the biographical aspects of the artists on their work. The main conclusions of the study are that the artistic image of Macau is the result of a unique process of cultural synthesis, in which Eastern and Western traditions mutually enrich each other. This process, which began in the Ming Dynasty, continued through Portuguese colonization and remains relevant to this day, demonstrating the importance of cultural interaction in the creation of outstanding works of art. Macau has had a significant influence on the formation of the style of such artists as George Chinnery and Augustin Bolger. The novelty of this study lies in its use of a comparative historical method, which, combined with biographical analysis of artists such as Chinnery, demonstrates how their personal experiences and cross-cultural interactions are reflected in their works, shaping the unique artistic identity of Macau. The results obtained contribute to a deeper understanding of cultural processes and can be used to develop strategies for the preservation and promotion of the region's unique cultural heritage.

The usefulness of breathing and relaxation techniques influencing the autonomic nervous system state in psychiatry. A subjective review of contemporary research. Part 2 – Western tradition

The usefulness of breathing and relaxation techniques influencing the autonomic nervous system state in psychiatry. A subjective review of contemporary research. Part 2 – Western tradition

The Occult Court: ʿAlī Ṣafī’s Boon for the Khan (1522) as Timurid-Safavid Manual of Boozing and Battling Magic and Marker of Early Modernity

ABSTRACT The occult-imperial turn that defined the post-Mongol Persianate world saw a proliferation of grimoires as handbooks of court culture – one with Mediterranean roots. Here I contextualise and translate for comparative study a minor Persian manual of illusionism and trickery, Boon for the Khan, by the Herati Naqshbandī Sufi, preacher and occultist ʿAlī Ṣafī (d. 1533), as strategic window onto this turn generally and the politically and militarily fraught Timurid-Safavid, Sunni-Shiʿi transition specifically. Commissioned by a Qizilbash warlord in 1522, it emblematises the wider democratising, Renaissance ethos that is a distinctive feature of early modernities West and East, especially occult-scientifically; it was written to help make Safavid courtly and military life quite literally stage-magical. This wonderfully accessible manual of warlord magic – devoted to boozing and battling (bazm u razm) in a way no known previous grimoire in the Western tradition had been – marries ancient Platonic-Alexandrian occult philosopher-kingship to modern “occult democracy”.

Comparative Analysis On The Evolution Of Legendary and Historical Heroes In Western and Eastern Literature

This article explores the evolution of legendary and historical heroes in Western and Eastern literature, analyzing their characteristics, cultural significance, and transformations across time. Heroes, whether mythical or historical, reflect societal values, struggles, and aspirations. While Western heroes often embody individualism, self-sacrifice, and triumph over adversity, Eastern heroes tend to emphasize collective responsibility, honor, and spiritual growth. By comparing iconic figures such as King Arthur and Hercules from Western traditions with Eastern counterparts Maanguberdi and Timur, this study highlights similarities and divergences in their representation, evolution, and cultural impact.

Listening to The Reluctant Fundamentalist:

This article centers on Mohsin Hamid's The Reluctant Fundamentalist (2007) and explores the challenges of reciprocal recognition and the impact of power dynamics on trust between the West and Muslim communities in post 9/11 America. Bart Moore-Gilbert's critique of existing models of recognition politics; specifically, models developed by Fukuyama and Taylor, reveals the limitations in addressing the Muslim experience and Islamic fundamentalism within western liberal-democratic societies. The failure of ocular-centric approaches – prevalent in the western tradition – to adequately represent the Muslim experience, guides me towards sound theories which provides the theoretical underpinning to this analysis. Thus, I denote this shift as a practice in decolonial listening. Drawing on Nicole Furlonge’s analytical framework of “listen in print” and the concept of “aural recognition”, I argue for a more comprehensive recognition through an aurally-engaged practice of reading and political engagement. Ultimately, I advocate for listening in order to develop trust and for a compassionate stance towards lives and encounters of Muslim minorities in post 9/11 America.

Cultivating Well-being, Community Cohesion, and Sense of Purpose through African Contemplative Practices

Exploring Southern African contemplative traditions addresses an important gap in the fields of contemplative science and healing modalities. In contrast to meditation practices drawn from Eastern wisdom traditions, practices embedded in African spirituality are sound- and movement-based and conducted in community settings. During a research retreat in South Africa, attended by traditional healers, creative arts therapists and performers, mindfulness and neuroscience researchers, and a Buddhist monk, indigenous rituals were performed by experienced facilitators and analyzed through group reflection sessions. Phenomenological data were recorded and coded. Participants identified how the synchronized movements, vocalization, and multisensory listening enabled experiences of self-transcendence, connection, and social cohesion, eliciting emotions of peacefulness, harmony, and joy. Using thematic analysis, four recurring threads emerged: sacred sense of purpose, nervous system self-regulation and co-regulation, enhancement of pro-social qualities, and community cohesion. These findings are presented to support international dialog and illuminate relationships among Eastern, Western, and African wisdom traditions. The global decline in mental health provides increased relevance, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of perpetuated historical injustices that have rendered individuals and communities isolated and disconnected. This article proposes that embodied rituals and arts-based therapies, alongside mindfulness practices, could provide effective ways to enhance personal well-being and build community cohesion.

Difference of Approaches to the Concept of Equality: Western Tradition and L.S. Senghor

In this paper, the authors present a comparative perspective of the notion of equality in the Western school of scientific thought—a notion that became the cornerstone for specific scientific concepts in Western social and political philosophy—and the non-Western approaches to equality, taking as an example of the latter the ideas of the Senegal politician and philosopher L.S. Senghor. Such a comparison is of interest because the African thinker, although he had studied in France and enjoyed political recognition there, understood the concept of equality in postcolonial context quite differently from the Western philosophers. Other African postcolonial political figures (e.g., J. Nyerere) have also addressed the equality concept, but it is Senghor’s ideas that demonstrate so openly the African alternative to the Western approach. Senghor’s concept of equality is inseparable from his postcolonial political activities: during this period of his life, he introduced a notion of Civilisation de l’Universel, Civilization of the Universal, which was based on this concept. According to Senghor, such a civilization should evolve through the use of dialogue on equal terms, integrating the values of different civilizations of the West and East. He juxtaposed this notion with the one of civilisation universelle, Universal Civilization, the evolution of which is based exclusively on Euro-American values and can, in its technocrat rush, distort human nature, leading to the demise of humankind. Trying to resolve the dichotomies of Eurocentric approach, born of the gap between rational and intuitive thinking, Senghor adopts a concept of equality as unity, which brings him close to the Eastern Christian tradition of interpreting equality. It is in sharp contrast to Euro-American social tradition, which focuses solely on rational and ideological conceptualizing.

Objects Over People

There is a tradition and practice in libraries and other Western and information institutions of collecting, stewarding, and taking “cultural heritage” materials from non-Western communities or about non-Western subjects. Attention to the practice of collecting cultural heritage is heightened during times of perceived threat, vulnerability, or destruction of these materials, and the ways in which libraries and memory workers can intervene in their protection. Framed as removal and rescue, the practice and narrative around absorbing “at risk” heritage materials reveals a set of assumptions about how libraries and information institutions attempt to decontextualize themselves from the world; this essay will unpack this framing, its outcomes, whose interests it serves, and the kinds of politics it extends and legitimizes. Utilizing textual analysis of mainstream library guidelines and communications, and drawing on principles of critical librarianship, art criticism, and anti-colonial writing, which point to the embeddedness of library and information work within regimes of power, this chapter will problematize the tendency of our fields to deploy rhetorics of inclusion—and the politics that underpin that rhetoric—in its justification of heritage absorption and representation, namely, that it inherently contributes to a social justice project, is universally desired, and serves an imagined “public good.”

Критериальные условия дискурса о рецепции Аристотеля в русской культуре

The paper examines approaches to the reception of Aristotle's ideas in Russian culture, from the era of Old Russian Culture to the present day. Special attention is paid to the problem of the “Russian Aristotle” – the perception of the philosopher's legacy in the context of transformations of European intellectual culture. The study emphasizes the difference in approaches to understanding Aristotle's legacy in Western and Eastern cultural traditions. The question is raised about the influence of paradigm shifts on the perception of the philosopher, starting with the Enlightenment. It is shown that in the Russian tradition of the early 20th century, in publicism and some scientific works was formed an idea of the Aristotle's reception inconsistency in Russian culture in comparison with “Aristotelian scholasticism”. Such an assessment seems culturally biased and declarative. In order to move away from declarative statements about the reception of Aristotle, the author clarifies the content of the concept of “reception” and introduces reception criteria (Rezeptionsgeschichte-block (R) и Wirkungsgeschichte-block (W)) that allow scaling the idea of reception, ranking the degree of appropriation, adaptation of received samples, assessing the degree and form of borrowing ideas, as well as the level of transformation of culture due to the effect of the received sample. The article analyzes the monographs of V. M. Lurye and D. Bradshaw as an example of research focused on the W-block of reception, i.e. on assessing the effect and result of reception. These samples, built on the methodology of the history of ideas and the history of concepts, emphasize the originality of the adaptation of Aristotelian key concepts (hypostasis, nature, energy) in the Orthodox tradition, are considered as an alternative to the “scholastic Aristotle” and give reason to think of Aristotelianism as an internal form and code of Orthodox culture and Russian civilization. The article raises an important question about the need to rethink the role of Aristotle in Russian culture, which allows us to deepen our understanding of the cultural foundations of philosophy and assess the significance of those ideas for contemporary times.