Chapter 1: Syllogism and the Tao

I finally started to write about the chapter.
Before reading this book,The Geography of Thought, I tried to do the 3Bs and found out that the author, Richard E. Nisbett publishes some other books also about the differnces of views between Westerners and Asians. The idea of the author was not new to me because I've already heard of these topics.

In the first chapter, the author compares ancient Greek and China. He asserts that the Greeks have a strong sense of personal agency, which individualism comes in the first place in their life. To the contrary, what is important in China is harmony, being one part of the community more than one individual. The following section "Science and Mathematics" was a little bit confusing for me.

I don't doubt that Nisbett introducing China as an example of East Asians, but the Greeks as an example of Westerners. I agree to the former because I thought the part "Chinese... to minimize friction others"(pp.5) is depicting something similar to cases in Japan such as "to sense the atmosphere not to stand out." As for Westereners, however, I believe it is not justified to explain the cultural differences in cognition because there are many countries (which means various cultures) to represent.

Finishing the first chapter, it was difficult for me to see the bias Nisbett has. So I would like to
keep on trying through reading the continuing parts of this book.
By the way, Taoism and the original definition of the word "school"(pp.4) interested me the most: the freedom to pursue knowledge. I felt that I should appreciate the freedom I have now:)