Pure Experience and Intuition In The Western-Eastern Philosophical Dialogue

Abstract

This short article intends to approach how the proposition of certain categories of contemporary philosophy of religion as key concepts can contribute to the construction of a bridge between Western and Eastern thought, which are usually opposed based on characteristics attributed to each of them, and that would represent contradictions. While the opposition is reinforced by theologians and philosophers, it is fully accepted that, among the most mystical thinkers, these differences matter very little, as can be seen, by the interest aroused in Eckhart's work among philosophers linked to Zen Buddhism in Kyoto School. Although some of the so-called Eastern characteristics are shared by philosophical schools of Neoplatonic orientation, according to Nishida, nothing is further from the path of Zen Buddhism than the absolute Plotinian transcendence. In this context, we propose that the most practical and direct and less properly doctrinal aspects are those that can provide a real dialogue. Such aspects come to appear as fundamental in some contemporary philosophical proposals that build their doctrines from concepts based on direct experience. Among these, we chose for this study the “pure experience” as presented by William James and the “Intuition” as proposed by Henri Bergson.