preparations for 18 September session
Read this
Nisbett, R. E. (2004). The geography of thought: How Asians and Westerners think differently – and why. New York: Free Press.
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The Social Origins of the Mind:
Economics, Social Practices, and Thought,
p. 29 through 45
The author says we might expect to find differences in:
Beliefs about controllability of the environment, with Westerners believing in controllability more than Easterners.
Preferred patterns of explanation for events, with Westerners focusing on objects and Easterners being more likely to emphasize relationships.
Use of formal logical rules, with Westerners more inclined to use logical rules to understand events than Easterners.
Application of dialectical approaches, with Easterners being more inclined to seek the Middle Way when confronted with apparent contradictions and Westerners being more inclined to insist on the correctness of one belief vs. another.