Eastern philosophy embraces paradox from "summary" of How the World Thinks by Julian Baggini
The fundamental idea that underpins Eastern philosophy is its acceptance of paradox. Paradoxes are statements that appear to be self-contradictory or absurd, yet contain a deeper truth when properly understood. While Western philosophy often seeks to resolve paradoxes or eliminate contradictions, Eastern thinkers are comfortable with ambiguity and complexity. They recognize that reality is multifaceted and cannot be reduced to simple binary distinctions. One of the key concepts in Eastern philosophy is the idea of yin and yang, which represents the duality and interconnectedness of all things. The yin and yang symbol, with its swirling black and white halves, illustrates how opposites can coexist and even depend on each other for their existence. This understanding of complementarity and balance is central to Eastern thought, which seeks harmony rather than absolutes. Another i...
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