Eurocentric Biases Within East Asian History essays

Eurocentric Biases Within East Asian History essays Before discussing Fukuzawa Yukichis's intellectual biases, several definitions must be made. For the purposes of this paper 'eurocentrism' is defined as the beliefs and methods of thought predominantly followed by european thinkers. This would include static notions of Orient and Occident where Oriental nations are naturally less developed than Occidental nations, notions of progress as being both linear and materialistic and; most importantly, the presence of empirical* systems of thought underlying philosophy and science. Any group of beliefs that does not include all of these characteristics falls outside the definition of eurocentric. There are two clauses in addition to the definition. Firstly, the assumption that an idea 'belongs' to one group or another is preposterous, the equation (A=B, B=C thus A=C) does not belong to Aristotle or Hellenistic culture even though he is its first known proponent. However a belief may be unique to, or have originated in one culture, like the concept of the Mandate of Heaven to the Chinese. The second clause within our definition adresses the subtle biase it assumes: if the notions of 'Orient' and 'Occident' are a uniquly western construct then by defining something as 'western' or 'european' we are tacitly agreeing that there are such distinctions. Since some frame of reference must be taken for the purposes of argument, the idea that Orient and Occident do exist, that uniquely western imperical science and notions of progress exist; and that the combination of these two beliefs constitutes a eurocentric bias is assumed. In light of this, Fukazawa Yukichi clearly falls within the definition of eurocentric with one catch: he does not view the Japanese people as being inferior to Europeans, he thinks they Much of Yukichi's thought can be deduced from the tone of the article in addition to his actual syntax. In his work "Japanese Enligh...