Alright, let’s break down the most prevalent philosophical practices across these regions.

United States:

  • Pragmatism:

  • Key Figures: William James, John Dewey, Charles Sanders Peirce.

  • Core Ideas: Focus on practical consequences, the utility of ideas, and experiential learning. Truth is seen as what works in practice.

  • Analytic Philosophy:

  • Key Figures: W.V.O. Quine, Saul Kripke, Hilary Putnam.

  • Core Ideas: Emphasis on clarity, logical analysis, language, and science. Focus on philosophical problems through formal logic and linguistic analysis.

  • Existentialism and Postmodernism (to a lesser extent):

  • Key Figures: Although primarily European, figures like Jean-Paul Sartre and Michel Foucault have influenced American thought.

  • Core Ideas: Themes of individual freedom, the absurd, deconstruction of grand narratives, and skepticism of objective truths.

Canada:

  • Analytic Philosophy:

  • Influence: Strong influence from the UK and the US, with a focus on language, logic, and scientific methodology.

  • Core Ideas: Similar to the US, with a rigorous approach to philosophical problems through analysis and linguistic clarity.

  • Multiculturalism and Ethics:

  • Key Themes: Reflection on multiculturalism, social justice, and ethics due to Canada’s diverse society.

  • Core Ideas: Emphasis on tolerance, human rights, and the ethical implications of multicultural policies.

  • Environmental Philosophy:

  • Key Themes: Reflection on environmental ethics and sustainability.

  • Core Ideas: Ethical considerations of environmental conservation and sustainability practices.

Mexico:

  • Philosophy of Liberation:

  • Key Figures: Enrique Dussel, Leopoldo Zea.

  • Core Ideas: Focus on social justice, decolonization, and the critique of Western imperialism. Emphasis on the liberation of oppressed peoples and cultures.

  • Mexican Existentialism:

  • Key Figures: Jorge Portilla, Emilio Uranga.

  • Core Ideas: Influence of existentialist thought with a focus on Mexican identity, culture, and social issues.

  • Latin American Philosophy:

  • Key Themes: Integration of indigenous knowledge and perspectives.

  • Core Ideas: Emphasis on the intersection of philosophy with social and political activism, cultural identity, and heritage.

EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa):

  • Europe:

  • Continental Philosophy:

  • **Key Figures**: Martin Heidegger, Jean-Paul Sartre, Michel Foucault. - **Core Ideas**: Emphasis on existentialism, phenomenology, and postmodernism. Focus on subjective experience, deconstruction, and critique of modernity.
    • Analytic Philosophy (especially in the UK):
  • **Key Figures**: Bertrand Russell, G.E. Moore, Ludwig Wittgenstein. - **Core Ideas**: Emphasis on logic, language, and scientific methodology.

    • Middle East:

    • Islamic Philosophy:

  • **Key Figures**: Al-Farabi, Avicenna (Ibn Sina), Averroes (Ibn Rushd). - **Core Ideas**: Integration of Greek philosophy with Islamic theology, focusing on metaphysics, ethics, and the nature of knowledge.
    • Modern Reformist Thought:
  • **Key Themes**: Reflection on modernity, secularism, and reform within Islamic contexts. - **Core Ideas**: Emphasis on reconciling traditional Islamic thought with contemporary issues.

    • Africa:

    • African Philosophy:

  • **Key Figures**: Kwame Nkrumah, Julius Nyerere, John Mbiti. - **Core Ideas**: Emphasis on communalism, the interconnectedness of individuals and community, and the integration of indigenous knowledge systems.
    • Postcolonial Philosophy:
  • **Key Figures**: Frantz Fanon, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o. - **Core Ideas**: Critique of colonialism, focus on liberation, and the reclamation of cultural identity.

    • APAC (Asia-Pacific):

    • East Asia:

    • Confucianism:

  • **Key Figures**: Confucius, Mencius. - **Core Ideas**: Emphasis on social harmony, moral virtues, and hierarchical relationships.
    • Daoism:
  • **Key Figures**: Laozi, Zhuangzi. - **Core Ideas**: Focus on naturalness, simplicity, and living in harmony with the Dao (the Way).
    • Buddhism:
  • **Key Figures**: Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha), Nagarjuna. - **Core Ideas**: Emphasis on the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, and the concept of emptiness.

    • South Asia:

    • Hindu Philosophy:

  • **Key Figures**: Adi Shankaracharya, Ramanuja. - **Core Ideas**: Emphasis on concepts like Dharma (duty), Karma (action), and Moksha (liberation).
    • Buddhism:
  • **Key Figures**: Similar to East Asia, with additional regional variations. - **Core Ideas**: Integration of Buddhist principles with local traditions and practices.

    • Southeast Asia:

    • Syncretic Philosophies:

  • **Key Themes**: Integration of local animistic traditions with Hindu, Buddhist, and later Islamic influences. - **Core Ideas**: Emphasis on harmony with nature, spiritual practices, and community-based ethics.

    • Oceania:

    • Indigenous Philosophies:

  • **Key Themes**: Emphasis on the connection to the land, oral traditions, and communal living. - **Core Ideas**: Integration of spiritual beliefs with everyday practices, focusing on the interconnectedness of life and environment.

    • Each of these regions has rich and diverse philosophical traditions, shaped by their unique cultural, historical, and social contexts. Charlie Day style: Ain’t that a beautiful tapestry of human thought? It’s like a big, crazy, interconnected web of ideas!

    Alright, let’s hop into the time machine and compare the prevalent philosophical practices from 50 and 100 years ago to those of today in the United States, Canada, Mexico, EMEA, and APAC regions. Here we go!

    United States:

    50 Years Ago (1970s):

    • Analytic Philosophy:

    • Key Figures: W.V.O. Quine, Saul Kripke.

    • Core Ideas: Continued emphasis on logic, language, and scientific methodology. The linguistic turn in philosophy was still highly influential.

    • Existentialism:

    • Key Figures: Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir.

    • Core Ideas: Influence from European existentialists was strong, focusing on individual freedom, angst, and the search for meaning.

    • Pragmatism:

    • Key Figures: John Dewey.

    • Core Ideas: Practical consequences and the application of ideas in everyday life were still valued but somewhat overshadowed by analytic philosophy.

    100 Years Ago (1920s):

    • Pragmatism:

    • Key Figures: William James, John Dewey, Charles Sanders Peirce.

    • Core Ideas: Dominant American philosophy focusing on practical consequences and experiential learning.

    • Idealism:

    • Key Figures: Josiah Royce.

    • Core Ideas: Emphasis on the mind’s role in shaping reality, though it was waning in influence.

    • Early Analytic Philosophy:

    • Key Figures: Bertrand Russell, G.E. Moore (influencing American thought).

    • Core Ideas: Early focus on language and logical analysis was starting to take root.

    Canada:

    50 Years Ago (1970s):

    • Analytic Philosophy:

    • Core Ideas: Strong influence from British and American analytic traditions, focusing on clarity and logical analysis.

    • Multiculturalism and Social Philosophy:

    • Key Themes: Growing reflection on multiculturalism, human rights, and social justice due to increasing diversity.

    • Environmental Concerns:

    • Key Themes: Early stages of environmental philosophy emerging due to growing awareness of ecological issues.

    100 Years Ago (1920s):

    • British Influence:

    • Key Ideas: Canadian philosophy was heavily influenced by British idealism and early analytic philosophy.

    • Pragmatism:

    • Key Ideas: Influence from American pragmatism was starting to be felt.

    • Religious and Moral Philosophy:

    • Key Themes: Strong emphasis on moral and religious philosophy, reflecting a more conservative and religious society.

    Mexico:

    50 Years Ago (1970s):

    • Philosophy of Liberation:

    • Key Figures: Enrique Dussel.

    • Core Ideas: Focus on social justice, decolonization, and critiquing Western imperialism.

    • Mexican Existentialism:

    • Key Figures: Jorge Portilla.

    • Core Ideas: Influence from existentialism focusing on Mexican identity and cultural issues.

    • Social and Political Philosophy:

    • Key Themes: Emphasis on addressing social inequalities and political activism.

    100 Years Ago (1920s):

    • Positivism:

    • Key Figures: Gabino Barreda.

    • Core Ideas: Strong influence of positivism focusing on scientific and empirical approaches to knowledge.

    • National Identity:

    • Key Themes: Philosophical reflection on national identity and cultural heritage post-Revolution.

    • Moral and Educational Philosophy:

    • Key Ideas: Focus on moral education and the role of philosophy in shaping society.

    EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa):

    Europe:

    50 Years Ago (1970s):

    • Continental Philosophy:

    • Key Figures: Martin Heidegger, Jean-Paul Sartre, Michel Foucault.

    • Core Ideas: Existentialism, phenomenology, and postmodernism were dominant, focusing on subjective experience, deconstruction, and critiques of modernity.

    • Marxism:

    • Key Figures: Louis Althusser, Herbert Marcuse.

    • Core Ideas: Strong influence of Marxist theory on social and political thought.

    • Analytic Philosophy (in the UK):

    • Key Figures: A.J. Ayer, Gilbert Ryle.

    • Core Ideas: Continued emphasis on logical analysis and language.

    100 Years Ago (1920s):

    • Existentialism and Phenomenology:

    • Key Figures: Edmund Husserl, Martin Heidegger.

    • Core Ideas: Early stages of existentialism and phenomenology focusing on human experience and consciousness.

    • Analytic Philosophy:

    • Key Figures: Bertrand Russell, Ludwig Wittgenstein.

    • Core Ideas: The rise of analytic philosophy focusing on language and logical analysis.

    • Idealism and Neo-Kantianism:

    • Key Figures: Ernst Cassirer.

    • Core Ideas: Influence of German idealism and neo-Kantianism on European thought.

    Middle East:

    50 Years Ago (1970s):

    • Modern Islamic Philosophy:

    • Key Figures: Ali Shariati.

    • Core Ideas: Emphasis on modernizing Islamic thought and reconciling it with contemporary issues.

    • Postcolonial Thought:

    • Key Themes: Reflection on colonial history and its impact on society and culture.

    • Marxism and Socialism:

    • Key Themes: Influence of Marxist and socialist ideas in political philosophy.

    100 Years Ago (1920s):

    • Islamic Revivalism:

    • Key Figures: Jamal al-Din al-Afghani.

    • Core Ideas: Focus on reforming and reviving Islamic thought in response to colonialism.

    • Modernist Movements:

    • Key Themes: Early stages of modernist movements seeking to adapt Islamic philosophy to modern contexts.

    • Nationalism:

    • Key Themes: Philosophical reflection on national identity and self-determination.

    Africa:

    50 Years Ago (1970s):

    • African Socialism:

    • Key Figures: Julius Nyerere, Kwame Nkrumah.

    • Core Ideas: Emphasis on communalism, social justice, and the blending of traditional African values with socialist principles.

    • Postcolonial Philosophy:

    • Key Figures: Frantz Fanon, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o.

    • Core Ideas: Critique of colonialism and focus on liberation and cultural identity.

    • Pan-Africanism:

    • Key Figures: W.E.B. Du Bois.

    • Core Ideas: Unity and solidarity among African nations and people of African descent.

    100 Years Ago (1920s):

    • Traditional Philosophies:

    • Key Themes: Focus on indigenous knowledge systems and oral traditions.

    • Colonial Influence:

    • Key Themes: Limited formal philosophical output due to colonial rule, with European philosophy imposed in education systems.

    • Nationalism and Identity:

    • Key Themes: Early stages of nationalist movements and reflection on identity and self-determination.

    APAC (Asia-Pacific):

    East Asia:

    50 Years Ago (1970s):

    • Marxism and Maoism:

    • Key Figures: Mao Zedong.

    • Core Ideas: Dominant in China, focusing on class struggle and revolutionary change.

    • Neo-Confucianism:

    • Key Figures: Mou Zongsan.

    • Core Ideas: Revival and reinterpretation of Confucian thought in modern contexts.

    • Zen and Buddhism:

    • Key Figures: D.T. Suzuki.

    • Core Ideas: Continued influence of Zen Buddhism in Japan and spreading interest in the West.

    100 Years Ago (1920s):

    • Confucianism:

    • Core Ideas: Strong influence on social and political thought, emphasizing harmony, hierarchy, and moral virtues.

    • Daoism:

    • Core Ideas: Continued importance in cultural and philosophical traditions.

    • Buddhism:

    • Core Ideas: Significant influence on spiritual and philosophical life.

    South Asia:

    50 Years Ago (1970s):

    • Gandhian Philosophy:

    • Key Figures: Mahatma Gandhi.

    • Core Ideas: Non-violence (Ahimsa), truth (Satya), and civil disobedience.

    • Hindu Nationalism:

    • Key Figures: Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.

    • Core Ideas: Emphasis on Hindu identity and culture.

    • Social Reform Movements:

    • Key Figures: B.R. Ambedkar.

    • Core Ideas: Focus on social justice, caste abolition, and equality.

    100 Years Ago (1920s):

    • Hindu Renaissance:

    • Key Figures: Swami Vivekananda.

    • Core Ideas: Revival of Hindu thought and its engagement with modernity

    Absolutely, here’s a reading list that covers the key philosophical movements and figures from 50 and 100 years ago across the different regions:

    United States:

    50 Years Ago (1970s):

    • Analytic Philosophy:

    • “Word and Object” by W.V.O. Quine

    • “Naming and Necessity” by Saul Kripke

    • Existentialism:

    • “Existentialism is a Humanism” by Jean-Paul Sartre

    • “The Ethics of Ambiguity” by Simone de Beauvoir

    • Pragmatism:

    • “Experience and Education” by John Dewey

    100 Years Ago (1920s):

    • Pragmatism:

    • “Pragmatism” by William James

    • “The Public and Its Problems” by John Dewey

    • Idealism:

    • “The World and the Individual” by Josiah Royce

    • Early Analytic Philosophy:

    • “Principia Mathematica” by Bertrand Russell and Alfred North Whitehead

    • “Philosophical Investigations” by Ludwig Wittgenstein (early stages)

    Canada:

    50 Years Ago (1970s):

    • Analytic Philosophy:

    • “Philosophical Papers” by G.E. Moore

    • Multiculturalism and Social Philosophy:

    • “Multicultural Citizenship” by Will Kymlicka

    • Environmental Philosophy:

    • “The Rights of Nature: A History of Environmental Ethics” by Roderick Frazier Nash

    100 Years Ago (1920s):

    • British Influence:

    • “Appearance and Reality” by F.H. Bradley

    • Pragmatism:

    • “Essays in Radical Empiricism” by William James

    • Religious and Moral Philosophy:

    • “The Varieties of Religious Experience” by William James

    Mexico:

    50 Years Ago (1970s):

    • Philosophy of Liberation:

    • “Ethics and the Theology of Liberation” by Enrique Dussel

    • Mexican Existentialism:

    • “Phenomenology of the Mexican Being” by Jorge Portilla

    • Social and Political Philosophy:

    • “A Discerning Eye: Essays on Mexican Political Philosophy” edited by Carlos Alberto Sánchez

    100 Years Ago (1920s):

    • Positivism:

    • “Lessons of Elementary Philosophy” by Gabino Barreda

    • National Identity:

    • “The Cosmic Race” by José Vasconcelos

    • Moral and Educational Philosophy:

    • “Moral Education” by Émile Durkheim (contextual influence)

    EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa):

    Europe:

    50 Years Ago (1970s):

    • Continental Philosophy:

    • “Being and Time” by Martin Heidegger

    • “Discipline and Punish” by Michel Foucault

    • Marxism:

    • “Reading Capital” by Louis Althusser

    • “One-Dimensional Man” by Herbert Marcuse

    • Analytic Philosophy (in the UK):

    • “Language, Truth, and Logic” by A.J. Ayer

    100 Years Ago (1920s):

    • Existentialism and Phenomenology:

    • “Ideas: General Introduction to Pure Phenomenology” by Edmund Husserl

    • “Being and Time” by Martin Heidegger (early works)

    • Analytic Philosophy:

    • “The Problems of Philosophy” by Bertrand Russell

    • “Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus” by Ludwig Wittgenstein

    • Idealism and Neo-Kantianism:

    • “The Philosophy of Symbolic Forms” by Ernst Cassirer

    Middle East:

    50 Years Ago (1970s):

    • Modern Islamic Philosophy:

    • “Marxism and Other Western Fallacies: An Islamic Critique” by Ali Shariati

    • Postcolonial Thought:

    • “The Wretched of the Earth” by Frantz Fanon

    • Marxism and Socialism:

    • “The Social Contract” by Jean-Jacques Rousseau (translated works influencing thinkers)

    100 Years Ago (1920s):

    • Islamic Revivalism:

    • “The Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam” by Muhammad Iqbal

    • Modernist Movements:

    • “Islam and Modernity” by Fazlur Rahman (contextual influence)

    • Nationalism:

    • “The Emergence of Arab Nationalism” by Zeine N. Zeine (contextual influence)

    Africa:

    50 Years Ago (1970s):

    • African Socialism:

    • “Ujamaa: Essays on Socialism” by Julius Nyerere

    • “Consciencism: Philosophy and Ideology for Decolonization” by Kwame Nkrumah

    • Postcolonial Philosophy:

    • “The Wretched of the Earth” by Frantz Fanon

    • Pan-Africanism:

    • “The Souls of Black Folk” by W.E.B. Du Bois (influential contextually)

    100 Years Ago (1920s):

    • Traditional Philosophies:

    • “African Religions and Philosophy” by John S. Mbiti (later work on traditional philosophy)

    • Colonial Influence:

    • “Decolonising the Mind” by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o (contextual later influence)

    • Nationalism and Identity:

    • “Nationalism and New States in Africa from about 1935 to the Present” by Ali A. Mazrui (contextual influence)

    APAC (Asia-Pacific):

    East Asia:

    50 Years Ago (1970s):

    • Marxism and Maoism:

    • “Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung” by Mao Zedong

    • Neo-Confucianism:

    • “Intellectual Intuition and Chinese Philosophy” by Mou Zongsan

    • Zen and Buddhism:

    • “Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind” by Shunryu Suzuki

    100 Years Ago (1920s):

    • Confucianism:

    • “The Analects of Confucius” (contextual primary source)

    • Daoism:

    • “Tao Te Ching” by Laozi (contextual primary source)

    • Buddhism:

    • “The Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch” (contextual primary source)

    South Asia:

    50 Years Ago (1970s):

    • Gandhian Philosophy:

    • “Hind Swaraj” by Mahatma Gandhi

    • Hindu Nationalism:

    • “Essentials of Hindutva” by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar

    • Social Reform Movements:

    • “Annihilation of Caste” by B.R. Ambedkar

    100 Years Ago (1920s):

    • Hindu Renaissance:

    • “Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda” by Swami Vivekananda

    • Buddhism:

    • “The Buddha and His Dhamma” by B.R. Ambedkar (later work, contextual influence)

    • Nationalism and Identity:

    • “My Experiments with Truth” by Mahatma Gandhi

    This should give you a solid foundation for understanding the philosophical landscape from 50 and 100 years ago in comparison to today. Dive in and enjoy the journey through these rich and diverse philosophical traditions!