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Eastern Wisdom in Western Minds: The Impact of Indian Philosophy on Western Thinkers

Description: This quiz explores the profound impact of Indian philosophy on the minds of some of the most influential Western thinkers. From the transcendentalism of Emerson to the existentialism of Sartre, Indian wisdom has left an indelible mark on Western thought and culture.
Number of Questions: 15
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Tags: indian philosophy western thought transcendentalism existentialism comparative philosophy
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Which American transcendentalist writer was deeply influenced by the Bhagavad Gita and incorporated its teachings into his own philosophy?

  1. Ralph Waldo Emerson

  2. Henry David Thoreau

  3. Walt Whitman

  4. Nathaniel Hawthorne


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Ralph Waldo Emerson was a prominent American transcendentalist writer who was deeply influenced by the Bhagavad Gita. He incorporated its teachings into his own philosophy, emphasizing the importance of self-reliance, intuition, and the unity of all life.

Which German philosopher was inspired by the Upanishads and incorporated their teachings into his existentialist philosophy?

  1. Friedrich Nietzsche

  2. Martin Heidegger

  3. Jean-Paul Sartre

  4. Albert Camus


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Martin Heidegger was a German philosopher who was inspired by the Upanishads and incorporated their teachings into his existentialist philosophy. He explored the concept of being and nothingness, and emphasized the importance of authenticity and self-awareness.

Which French philosopher and writer was influenced by Indian philosophy and incorporated its teachings into his existentialist philosophy?

  1. Albert Camus

  2. Jean-Paul Sartre

  3. Simone de Beauvoir

  4. Maurice Merleau-Ponty


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Jean-Paul Sartre was a French philosopher and writer who was influenced by Indian philosophy and incorporated its teachings into his existentialist philosophy. He explored the concepts of freedom, responsibility, and the meaning of life.

Which American psychologist and philosopher was influenced by Indian philosophy and developed a humanistic approach to psychology?

  1. William James

  2. Carl Rogers

  3. Abraham Maslow

  4. B.F. Skinner


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Abraham Maslow was an American psychologist and philosopher who was influenced by Indian philosophy and developed a humanistic approach to psychology. He emphasized the importance of self-actualization and the pursuit of higher values.

Which British philosopher and mathematician was influenced by Indian philosophy and developed a philosophy of process and becoming?

  1. Alfred North Whitehead

  2. Bertrand Russell

  3. G.E. Moore

  4. Ludwig Wittgenstein


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Alfred North Whitehead was a British philosopher and mathematician who was influenced by Indian philosophy and developed a philosophy of process and becoming. He emphasized the importance of creativity, novelty, and the interconnectedness of all things.

Which American philosopher and public intellectual was influenced by Indian philosophy and developed a philosophy of pragmatism?

  1. William James

  2. John Dewey

  3. Charles Sanders Peirce

  4. George Santayana


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

William James was an American philosopher and public intellectual who was influenced by Indian philosophy and developed a philosophy of pragmatism. He emphasized the importance of experience, action, and the practical consequences of beliefs.

Which German philosopher and sociologist was influenced by Indian philosophy and developed a theory of social action?

  1. Max Weber

  2. Emile Durkheim

  3. Karl Marx

  4. Georg Simmel


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Max Weber was a German philosopher and sociologist who was influenced by Indian philosophy and developed a theory of social action. He emphasized the importance of values, beliefs, and the subjective meanings that individuals attach to their actions.

Which American philosopher and literary critic was influenced by Indian philosophy and developed a theory of deconstruction?

  1. Jacques Derrida

  2. Michel Foucault

  3. Judith Butler

  4. Edward Said


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Jacques Derrida was an American philosopher and literary critic who was influenced by Indian philosophy and developed a theory of deconstruction. He emphasized the importance of difference, multiplicity, and the instability of meaning.

Which American philosopher and environmentalist was influenced by Indian philosophy and developed a philosophy of deep ecology?

  1. Arne Naess

  2. Bill Devall

  3. George Sessions

  4. Joanna Macy


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Arne Naess was an American philosopher and environmentalist who was influenced by Indian philosophy and developed a philosophy of deep ecology. He emphasized the importance of the intrinsic value of all living beings and the need for a non-anthropocentric approach to environmental ethics.

Which American philosopher and religious scholar was influenced by Indian philosophy and developed a theory of comparative religion?

  1. Huston Smith

  2. Ninian Smart

  3. John Hick

  4. Mircea Eliade


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Huston Smith was an American philosopher and religious scholar who was influenced by Indian philosophy and developed a theory of comparative religion. He emphasized the importance of understanding the different religious traditions on their own terms and the need for interfaith dialogue.

Which American philosopher and psychologist was influenced by Indian philosophy and developed a theory of transpersonal psychology?

  1. Ken Wilber

  2. Stanislav Grof

  3. Abraham Maslow

  4. Roberto Assagioli


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Ken Wilber was an American philosopher and psychologist who was influenced by Indian philosophy and developed a theory of transpersonal psychology. He emphasized the importance of integrating the insights of different psychological and spiritual traditions and the need for a holistic approach to human development.

Which American philosopher and public intellectual was influenced by Indian philosophy and developed a theory of cosmopolitanism?

  1. Martha Nussbaum

  2. Amartya Sen

  3. Kwame Anthony Appiah

  4. Michael Sandel


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Martha Nussbaum is an American philosopher and public intellectual who was influenced by Indian philosophy and developed a theory of cosmopolitanism. She emphasizes the importance of human dignity, social justice, and the need for a global community that respects the diversity of cultures and values.

Which American philosopher and ethicist was influenced by Indian philosophy and developed a theory of care ethics?

  1. Nel Noddings

  2. Carol Gilligan

  3. Joan Tronto

  4. Virginia Held


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Nel Noddings is an American philosopher and ethicist who was influenced by Indian philosophy and developed a theory of care ethics. She emphasizes the importance of empathy, compassion, and the need for a more caring and nurturing society.

Which American philosopher and political theorist was influenced by Indian philosophy and developed a theory of deliberative democracy?

  1. Joshua Cohen

  2. Amy Gutmann

  3. Jurgen Habermas

  4. John Rawls


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Joshua Cohen is an American philosopher and political theorist who was influenced by Indian philosophy and developed a theory of deliberative democracy. He emphasizes the importance of public deliberation, civic engagement, and the need for a more participatory and inclusive democracy.

Which American philosopher and environmental ethicist was influenced by Indian philosophy and developed a theory of ecofeminism?

  1. Val Plumwood

  2. Karen Warren

  3. Vandana Shiva

  4. Carolyn Merchant


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Val Plumwood was an American philosopher and environmental ethicist who was influenced by Indian philosophy and developed a theory of ecofeminism. She emphasizes the importance of the interconnectedness of all living beings, the need for a more sustainable and just society, and the role of women in environmental protection.

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