The numerous philosophies with roots in Europe and the Western World might be said to be the children and grandchildren of Socratic Greek philosophy which concerned itself with questions of physics, logic, and ethics, and raises question, among others, about existence, reason, knowledge, values, mind and languages. Indeed, the etymology of the word “philosophy” itself in rooted in the Greek word “φιλοσοφία” which gave direct rise to the Latin word “philosophia” and finally to the English word “philosophy”, all having the connotation of “love of wisdom”.

But philosophies found in other parts of the world typically do not have Greek origins. Indeed, the regions of the Middle East are home to the earliest known philosophical literature. From them grew the Zoroastrian as well as Abrahamic philosophies from which grew Jewish, Christian and Islamic philosophies with an emphasis on spiritual knowledge said to be “gnosis”.

Eastern philosophies are numerous and varied with philosophical concepts often defying an exact translation into the English language. These include dhárma, karma, pramāṇa, duḥkha, saṃsāra in Indian philosophy, dukkha, anicca, and anatta in Buddhist philosophy as well as the Chinese philosophies of Confucianism, Legalism, Taoism, Mohism, the school of yin-yang (forces of nature) and the school of names (definition and logic).

Elsewhere we have the unwritten ethnophilosophies of Africa and the philosophy of Native Americans based on spiritual powers.

But what follows is yet another philosophy. And while it may share any number of philosophical elements with any number of different philosophies, it is based none of them. As such, the names of none of these philosophies and the philosophers from around the world who created them are referenced in the text of these, my personal philosophical ramblings.