The document discusses the challenges of fusing different philosophies and examines examples from the 20th century of individuals who synthesized multiple philosophies in their work and ideas. It surveys figures like Tolstoy, Gandhi, Sun Yat-sen, and Mao Zedong who brought together philosophies from their own cultural contexts with Western and other traditions. The talk questions whether attempts to blend philosophies can succeed or if doing so is inherently dangerous. It concludes by noting that when navigating different ideas there is no single path, and we must forge our own road as we travel through life.

1. Why Fusing Philosophies
Can Be a Dangerous Idea
By Joffre Balce
delivered at Philorum
on 10 September 2014 at Dulwich Hill NSW

2. Why the Talk?
• Challenge – Response Theory of Arnold J. Toynbee
• The Dialectical Challenge: The test of a first rate mind is the ability to hold two opposing in
mind at the same time & still retain the ability to function. ~ F. Scott Fitzgerald
• Challenge of Muliculturalism: What Is Your Response?
• By What Standards Do We Judge Success or Failure?
• Is the “Experiment” Over? Was There Ever an “Experiment”?

3. Survey of 20th Century Examples
• Count Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy
• Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
• Sun Yat sen
• Mao Ze dong
• Ernesto “Che” Guevara
• Paolo Freire
• Frantz Fanon
• Lee Kwan Yew

4. Leo Tolstoy
• Russian Context
• Western Philosophy
• Eastern Philosophy
• American Philosophy

5. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
• Indian Context
• Indian Philosophy
• Judaeo-Christian-Muslim Belief
• Western Philosophy

6. Dr. Sun Yat Sen
• Chinese Context
• Confucianism
• American Philosophy

7. Mao Zedong
• Chinese Context
• Chinese Military Philosophy
• Western Philosophy

8. Che Guevara
• Latin American Context
• Western Philosophy
• Asian Philosophy

9. Paolo Freire
• Latin American Context
• American Philosophy
• European Philosophy

10. Frantz Fanon
• African Context
• Negritude Movement
• Psychiatry
• Western Philosophy

11. Lee Kwan Yeuw
• Singaporean Context
• Confucianism
• Fabian Socialism
• Adam Smith

12. Australian Context
• Isolationism - Mundialism
• Scientific Atheism – Traditional Theism
• Religion – Philosophy
• Eastern – Western
• Materialism – Spiritualism
• Politics – Economics
• Third World – First World

13. Quo Vadis?
• No Hay Sendero. Se Lo Hace Al
Andar.
• There Is No Path. We Make the
Road As We Travel.

14. Treat Life Like An Adventure!