[Book Sip] The Wandering Philosopher

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This is a travelogue by German philosopher Hermann von Keyserling, documenting his philosophical reflections during his approximately two-year world tour centered on India, East Asia, and North America from 1911 to 1912. His travelogue differed from the popular Grand Tour travelogues of the time. It was not a record of exotic landscapes viewed through the narrow lens of Europeans. Based on a deep understanding of Eastern religions and philosophy, he regarded exotic spaces not as 'objects of sightseeing' but as 'subjects of philosophical contemplation.' He reflects on how Hinduism took root and continued for thousands of years in India, and how Confucianism unified and influenced East Asian societies during his visit to China.

The nature of Africa gives us a great impression like a work of art. Who could be a sculptor capable of working as excellently as nature? It is difficult to show the possibilities of the human form at a higher level than nature. Most are far behind. Purely from an artistic perspective or in the power implied by the work, they fall far short of the model. European aesthetes value only the highest art. Should I say I am the same? Artists are said to be eternal, but they only happen to have the opportunity to present their works and enjoy fame. Sculptors have imitated gestures because humans could not express everything with gestures alone since they began walking on two feet many years ago. At such times, the work becomes a novel revelation. Most of us do not feel much ourselves. Poets must show unfamiliar emotions to gain people's sympathy. - p.31 Part 1 Tropical Regions ─ Aden

Scholars who are knowledgeable and excellent in reasoning are pleased with Buddhist philosophy. Understandably so. Mach did not know if metaphysics was necessary and did not show religious feelings. Therefore, he was satisfied with phenomenological relativism. In contrast, those who understand concepts similarly to Buddha and respect universality tend to aim for absolute philosophy. Such people always keep absolute existence in mind in some form. Hindu sages who view phenomena with a concept of essence accidentally similar to Buddha think the same way. The West was no different. Auguste Comte, who founded a kind of sect emphasizing emotions, William James, who thought of ‘God living as a person’ as divinity in personality, and Herbert Spencer, who leaned toward ‘agnosticism’ in his later years, shared similar thoughts. Buddha founded a religion that could be called phenomenology. Buddha analyzed cognition in the form of a gospel. It was something Mach might have done. Buddha did that. It is very paradoxical from a Western perspective. Because of this, Brahman philosophers dismissed Buddhism. At first, I also found it strange, but now I finally understand. Under the physiological conditions related to people living in tropical regions, Buddhism actually carries the meaning of a gospel. - p.54 Part 2 Ceylon ─ Kandy

Wandering Philosopher | Written by Hermann von Keyserling | Translated by Hong Moon-woo | Param Book | 800 pages | 32,000 KRW

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