Editing Openai/69231e78-5a78-8013-81a7-f2dd38762292 (section)

=== Assistant: Thanks for the correction — let’s sort it out. ===
Thanks for the correction — let’s sort it out.
Because “Eastern philosophy” is an imprecise label, people often use it in different ways. To fix my answer, I need to know how you’re using the term.

Here are the three main definitions people mean by “Eastern philosophy.” Tell me which one you’re referring to, and I’ll align the answer to it:

==== “Eastern philosophy” = philosophies from Asia. ====

Under this usage:
✔ Hinduism — Yes
✔ Buddhism — Yes
✔ Islam — Partly (because Islam originated in Western Asia, i.e., the Middle East, which is part of Asia — so technically it’s Eastern in geography)

Many scholars avoid this definition because it lumps together extremely different traditions.

==== “Eastern philosophy” = Dharmic and East Asian traditions (India, China, Japan, etc.), typically characterized by karma, rebirth, monism, non-dualism, etc. ====

Under this usage:
✔ Hinduism — Yes
✔ Buddhism — Yes
✘ Islam — No (it belongs to the Abrahamic tradition)

This is the standard usage in comparative philosophy.

==== “Eastern religions/philosophies” = religions originating east of the Middle East. ====

Under this usage:
✔ Hinduism — Eastern
✔ Buddhism — Eastern
✘ Islam — Western/Abrahamic
(“Western” meaning part of the same lineage as Judaism/Christianity)

==== If you’re using definition #1 (pure geography), then Islam is Eastern. ====
If you’re using #2 or #3, then Islam is not Eastern.

All three interpretations appear in different books and classrooms, which causes confusion.

If you tell me which definition you think is correct, I’ll give the fully aligned explanation.