Historically, philosophical ideas have been essentially divided between the east and west. Despite the geographic separation, eastern and western thought pertaining to the human condition and the nature of the cosmos share a common thread. Certain aspect of the European philosophy: existentialism can be found in the Japanese samurai code. The ideas of German philosophers Martin Heidegger and Arthur Schopenhauer resemble the philosophies of Taoism and Buddhism, respectively. The ideas of American philosopher William James and the ideas contained in Buddhism are also connected. Other Western philosophical ideas are connected with eastern thought. There are similarities between eastern and western philosophy.

Parallelism is apparent between existential/pre-existential philosophy and the samurai code. Existentialism according to Jean-Paul Sartre is ?the philosophy that man?s existence precedes his essence. People have no given self-identity, they have to choose their identities and work for them through their actions? (Solomon 410). Existentialism is a western philosophy because its theorists are from a European origin. In this perspective, existential ethics are very similar to samu

Moore, Brooke N., and Kenneth Bruder. Philosophy: The Power of Ideas. Mountain View CA: Mayfield, 1996.

Tzu, Lao. Tao Te Ching. Trans. D.C. Lau. England: Penguin, 1963.

Arthur Schopenhauer, who greatly influenced the thoughts of Sartre, shared similar beliefs in the Buddha?s viewpoint on human experience. Schopenhauer believed in a distinction between the world we experience and the underlying reality. According to him, this distinction can be found within a person?s will. This will is considered to be an irrational and impersonal force within us and is the source for the irrationality. He believed that one of the most evident manifestations of this will is in all creatures, he suggests it is the will to reproduce. He took on ?the Buddhist conception of the ?veil of Maya? and declares our experience of the world to be largely illusion? (Solomon 229). The assumption of the will as irrational makes our perception a relative illusion. Schopenhauer, like the Buddha, perceived the world of experience to be an illusion. The irrationality of our will, which shapes our experiences, is what causes suffering in our lives. Both viewed our experiences to be a source of our suffering.

Kierkegaard, Soren. Fear and Trembling. Trans. Alastair Hannay. London: Penguin, 1985.

The idea of Martin Heidegger resembles the philosophical ideas of the Taoists. Heidegger is a phenomenologist- the philosophy that focuses on theories of knowledge and the human condition. Chuang-tzu, one of the founders of Taoism presents a similar point in his book that share a connection with Heidegger?s viewpoints. In Chuang-tzu?s conversation with Hui Shih, Hui Shih comments ?you are not a fish. Whence do you know that the fish are happy?? Chuang-tzu replies, ?you aren?t me, whence do you know that I don?t know the fish are happy?? (Chuang-tzu 123). Chuang-tzu is denying the assumption of universal sympathy. He is rejecting the assumption that people have share understandings toward each other. In comparison, Heidegger states ?other living creatures are separated from our existence essence by an abyss? (Heidegger 206). He is sharing the same conception that people are separated from understanding each other, rather than bonded by a universal sympathy.

Suzuki, D.T. Zen Buddhism. Garden City, New York: Doubleday, 1956.

Chuang-tzu. The Inner Chapters. Trans. and ed. A.C. Graham. Boston: Unwin Paperbacks, 1986.

Solomon, Robert C. Introducing Philosophy. 6th ed. New York: Harcourt Brace, 1997.

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