| As a branch or subfield of philosophy, comparative | | | | Another is skepticism or the tendency to narrate or |
| philosophy is quite young and is still in its early stage | | | | discuss various traditions and attitudes of other |
| of development. Its aim is to work on problems and | | | | philosophers while suspending belief or judgment of |
| compare various philosophies by taking into account | | | | their adequacy and veracity. |
| all sources regardless of culture, language or | | | | Incommensurability is another obstacle of |
| philosophical stream. It differs from area studies | | | | comparative philosophy that refers to the extreme |
| philosophy in that area studies philosophy focuses its | | | | diversity of traditions that may make it impossible to |
| study on a single region or area. For instance, it may | | | | reach a common ground on which to base |
| compare the various forms of Confucianism within | | | | comparisons. Perennialism or the failure to recognize |
| China or compare Chinese Philosophy with Indian | | | | that traditions and beliefs evolve and thus the basis |
| Philosophy. Comparative philosophy differs in that it | | | | for a dialogue today may change tomorrow is |
| goes beyond the boundaries of culture and language | | | | another major obstacle that comparative philosophy |
| as it seeks to find a basis for comparing philosophical | | | | needs to overcome. |
| traditions. | | | | And finally there's the lack of acceptance by other |
| In this sense, comparative philosophy can be | | | | philosophers of comparative philosophy itself as a |
| regarded as an extension of world philosophy | | | | subfield of philosophy. There are those that contend |
| because world philosophy brings together philosophical | | | | that there is no such thing as comparative philosophy |
| writings and traditions that exist among all human | | | | because all philosophical work is comparative. When |
| cultures with the end in view of coming up with a | | | | you try and find the common ground among |
| unified global stand. It differs from comparative | | | | different versions of one religion, you are actually |
| philosophy, however, in that the latter does not really | | | | comparing them. When you study the principles that |
| strive to become a world philosophy but only to gain | | | | one philosopher espouses and test these principles |
| a better understanding of the differences in beliefs | | | | with that of another, you are comparing them. |
| of one culture with another from a different region. | | | | Truth be told, the strong tendency for |
| The Hurdles of Comparative Philosophy | | | | incommensurability that results from the excessively |
| Certain problems stand in the way of comparative | | | | diverse scope of subjects embraced by comparative |
| philosophy that prevents it from totally achieving its | | | | philosophy results in the failure to create a synthesis |
| goals. First of this is descriptive chauvinism or the | | | | of traditions. What comparative philosophy creates is |
| tendency of philosophers to regard his own tradition | | | | not a new belief or understanding but a new method |
| as the only correct tradition and other traditions that | | | | or process by which one can try to understand. |
| differ from his as erroneous or false. | | | | |