Analysis of Eastern and Western Civilizations in the Thoughts of René Guénon

Authors : Serdar Nükte

Pages : 684-698

Doi:10.33709/ictimaiyat.1670353

View : 154 | Download : 512

Publication Date : 2025-11-30

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This article examines Guénon\\\'s fundamental theses concerning Eastern civilization, Western civilization, and the dichotomy between the East and the West. Guénon proposed a series of analyses concerning civilization. His ideas established him as a leading thinker on the subject. The fact that the arguments he put forward a century ago are still relevant today confirm this situation. According to Guénon, analyzing civilizations means discussing the deep-rooted East-West relationship. He believed that both civilizations were in opposition at the level of thought. Therefore, he focused on three themes of his civilizations. These are Eastern civilization, Western civilization, and the opposition between them. While addressing the main tendencies of Eastern civilization, he emphasized traditional thought and metaphysical knowledge. While examining the characteristics of Western civilization, he started with several breaking points. These are the departure of Western civilization from traditional thought and metaphysical knowledge with the Renaissance and Reformation, the damage to its spiritual unity with the adoption of Protestantism, and the modern understanding of science. When his ideas on the East-West opposition were examined, he thought that both civilizations intersected with each other in many ways. This article aims to evaluate Guénon\\\'s basic approach to these three issues.
Keywords : René Guénon, Doğu Uygarlığı, Batı Uygarlığı, Doğu-Batı Düşüncesi, Doğu-Batı Karşıtlığı.

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