According to a German philosopher, Martin Heidegger (1889-1976), philosophy is vis-a-vis to the Western orientation. Perhaps, others are right in saying, it is redundant to say Western philosophy. In fact, when one speaks of philosophy there is no need to distinguish it as Eastern or Western for automatically it is already Western in orientation for it originates there. One of these is Thales of Miletus (624-585 BC) who believed that water is the basic element of the world. When the word 'philosophy' is said, it is tantamount that it is a Western thinking. However, it creates a variation when one talks about the philosophy in the East. There were also philosophies that emerged in the Asian countries. One of the existing philosophies is the Chinese philosophy that has been shaping the Chinese civilization. Indian philosophy is worth noting that "believes in some form or other in the law of karma and, its corollary, rebirth" (Moorty 14). No traces will be found that a Chinese philosopher will discuss or debate about monism, plurality or idealism. He has a different approach or orientation from the Western thought in terms of philosophizing. Apart from geographical locations, the two parts of the world have also unique differences in their way of life in general and how each of them affects the lives of the people. .
For Plato (428-347 BC), philosophy begins in wonder. Western philosophy is typically considered to be born out of philosophical wonder. Hence, Kenneth Gallagher says, "It is primarily wonder (to thaumazein), and no man who lacks this capacity can ever attain philosophical insight" (3). On the other hand, "Eastern Philosophy is generally understood to be more practically oriented, to inquire into human suffering and how to alleviate it, and to emphasize harmonious living of man" (Moorty 10). Western philosophy used reason in order to make religion more logical and acceptable to the inquiring mind.
