Ethical Questions: East and West

Eastern philosophy represents one of the most ancient intellectual traditions of human culture, yet it is generally ignored by Western philosophers. Today more than ever the need for understanding in a global community should be stressed as the scope, scale and complexity of social changes increase. Bina Gupta strives to obtain a harmonious balance between the two traditions in her book Ethical Questions . Both ancient and modern sources - such as the Buddha, Aristotle, the Upanishads, Simone de Beauvoir, Kant and Alasdair Macintyre - are used as selections of the various traditions. Gupta comments on each section, introducing the sources’ insights on long-outstanding questions such as: Who am I? What is the meaning of life? How ought I to act? The different perspectives on the convergence of human interest at the foundation for all moral thinking bring light to that which binds humankind together. True understanding of the other requires respect for the other. Only when this is present can different traditions exist harmoniously.