Socrates And Zen Buddhism Comparison

Socrates and Zen
The differences between Eastern and Western philosophies are very pronounced. Western mentality is generally based upon a rational, ordered system of categories that encourage the continual search for truth and knowledge through science or religion. Conversely, Eastern mentality maintains that life is a journey towards self-discovery of oneself and the unexplainable universe. However the drastic divide between Eastern and Western thoughts may not have always been so dramatic. Despite the many differences between contemporary Western and Eastern philosophy, there is a major resemblance between the beliefs and methods of Socrates, the father of Western philosophy, and the Eastern philosophy of Zen Buddhism. In Plato's
Republic, Socrates explained that the world is divided into the visible and intelligible world. The visible world includes everything that we understand through our senses and the intelligible world can be attained through our innate knowledge of the Forms. Socrates explained that the Forms are unchanging and absolute entities, which are the only objects of true knowledge. The perfect and natural image of the Forms is what causes one's perception of objects in the visible world. In other worlds, an orange in the visual world is merely a reflection of the perfect Forms of Orangeness, Roundness, and Juiciness. Above all, the Form of Good is the Form that creates all other Forms and is the source of genuine knowledge and truth. Although Socrates could not explicitly describe the Form of Good, he believed the Form of Good is the highest degree of cognitive understanding and the ultimate object in our search for knowledge. Zen Buddhism is a practice originally observed in China and can be considered a philosophy, religion, or simply a way of life.
Zen aims at achieving a particular state of mind called enlightenment. Enlightenment entails the removal of oneself from all worldly distinctions. Once enlightenment is achieved, one can experience the true meaning of existence and "oneness" with the universe. The separation of oneself from material barriers allows one to experience reality and knowledge in each and every moment. Li, or absolute truth, can be achieved during an illuminative trance of enlightenment. Li can be understood when one affirms that there are no opposites or material distinctions. However according to Zen Buddhism, Li can not form logic conclusions or be demonstrable. It cannot be adequately described with words, since it lies beyond our senses and our intellect, from which our terms and words
stem. Socrates and Zen both convey similar epistemic views. Both philosophies strive to find ultimate truth and knowledge through the attainment of either the Form of Good or Li through enlightenment. Socratic and Zen philosophies also correlate with rationalism, the belief that all pure knowledge comes from the mind rather than through the senses. Socrates believed that the Forms are knowledge that everyone experiences before birth, and is later recognizable with careful introspection beyond the ordinary, visual world. Similarly, Zen maintains that Li can be reached by anyone who is able to remove themselves from distinctions and experience life in the present moment. Therefore, both Socratic philosophy and Zen maintain that achieving true knowledge and understanding of reality is obtainable for anyone who is able to transcend the material and subjective realm. Although Socrates theory of the Forms and Zen enlightenment appear to have similar epistemic values, many would argue that they are fundamentally different. Many could argue that Zen beliefs and Socrates have opposing intentions for attaining knowledge. In Zen, the purpose of gaining enlightenment is solely for a personal benefit. Enlightenment is an indescribable and personal experience of existence and truth that may only result in a personal change of attitude and way of life. Enlightenment cannot benefit the ordinary society due to its incomprehensible and non-materialistic quality. However Socrates believed that the full understanding of the Forms could ultimately benefit society. Socrates believed that the Forms create the ideal model that everything in the visual world can be compared to. Socrates urges scholars to gain knowledge of the Forms in order to construct a better society that would more closely resemble ultimate perfection. Contrary to this argument, Socrates did acknowledge that the knowledge of the Forms held by a few individuals would most likely be unable to benefit society as a whole.
Socrates made this realization with his allegory of the cave. Socrates described a cave where prisoners, who have been chained down since birth, are only able to see shadows cast on the walls of the cave by their captors. These prisoners believed that the shadows where what constituted reality. However if a prisoner is freed, that prisoner first becomes aware of the captors casting shadows behind him. Then the prisoner goes outside the cave and becomes aware of the real world. Socrates compared this prisoner's newfound knowledge of reality to an individual gaining knowledge of the Forms. The prisoner is compelled to go back to the cave and explain what true reality is to the other prisoners. However the other prisoners do not understand or appreciate this knowledge. The bound prisoners are unable to fathom a different reality and they are content with their own, limited knowledge. Consequently, even if someone understands the Forms, they will be unable translate this supreme knowledge for others to fully grasp. Therefore, the attainment of pure knowledge through the Forms or by Zen enlightenment is only understood through personal experience and is unable to benefit society as a
whole. Zen and Socratic philosophy share similar methods for gaining knowledge. Zen and Socrates' theory are dependent on teacher to pupil transmission of wisdom. This progression from teacher to student is evident through the spread of the Socratic philosophy from Socrates to Plato to Aristotle to Alexander the Great and the long lineage of Zen masters that taught future Zen masters. However the wisdom passed on by Socrates and Zen masters isn't the source of knowledge, but rather their wisdom guides students to experience the knowledge for themselves. Enlightenment in Zen Buddhism is an indescribable state of mind that is miraculously experienced, rather than learned by an individual. Socratic philosophy also maintains that knowledge is a personal and sudden realization. Socrates' student Plato once wrote, "The truths of philosophy cannot be expressed in words as other subjects can, but after personal assistance in these studies from a guide, after living for some time with that guide, suddenly a flash of understanding, as it were, is kindled by a spark that leaps across…" (R.S. Bluck, Plato's Life and Thought).
Although true knowledge can only be personally experienced, according to both Socrates and Zen dialogue is utilized to stimulate their students' personal experience of real knowledge. Plato documented most of Socrates' philosophy using conversational inquiry often referred to as Socratic dialect. Socratic dialect involves a line of questioning that forces individuals to analyze their personal beliefs and basic principles of existence. The questioning in Socratic dialect usually forces an individual to a seemingly unsolvable or circular paradox. This paradox can then lead an individual into an alternate way of thinking and perceiving the way around them. This type of self-discovery is essential to Socrates belief that knowledge must be experienced instead of simply learned.
The basis of Zen Buddhism is entirely composed of self-discovery and the personal search for enlightenment. Although Zen primarily emphasizes meditation, guidance from an expert teacher is essential just as guidance is essential in Socrates' philosophy. Zen masters dispense their knowledge of enlightenment and Li through koans. Koans are profound puzzles or short stories that guide students toward enlightenment. Koans do not try to describe or teach enlightenment or Li, because enlightenment and Li can only be experienced. However students meditate on the complex meaning or resolution to a particular koan. The journey towards the solution or meaning of the koan though meditation can bring one to enlightenment and ultimate knowledge of pure existence, reality, and truth. Socrates' line of questioning and the koans of Zen masters are remarkably similar. Socrates' questions and koans of the Zen masters are both subtle, yet upon deeper inspection, extremely profound. Both the koans and the Socratic questioning initially create an internal conflict or paradox that compels an individual to seek alternate and unique solutions. Therefore Socrates and Zen masters guide their pupil toward the attainment of ultimate knowledge without explicitly saying what the truth is. In conclusion, common ground can be found between Eastern and Western philosophies. The Western philosopher Socrates and the Eastern practice of Zen Buddhism both convey similar epistemic views. Both philosophies strive to find ultimate truth and knowledge through the attainment of either the Form of Good or Li through enlightenment. Both Socratic philosophy and Zen maintain that achieving true knowledge and understanding of reality is obtainable for anyone who is able to transcend the material and subjective realm. However the attainment of pure knowledge through the Forms or by Zen enlightenment is only understood through personal experience. Zen and Socratic philosophy share similar methods for gaining knowledge. Zen and Socrates' theory are dependent on teacher to pupil transmission of wisdom. However the wisdom passed on by Socrates and Zen masters isn't the source of knowledge, but rather their wisdom, through the use of Socratic questioning and the Zen masters' koans, guides students to experience the knowledge for themselves. With all these remarkable similarities between the pillars of Socratic philosophy and Zen, it is a wonder how Western and Eastern philosophies have diverged to form the two different sets of rationales and cultures present today.