Introduction to Philosophy:

The Four Philosophical Traditions

	There are four fundamental philosophical traditions in the West--two analytic and two synthetic approaches.
	There are those in the analytic tradition who find many constituent parts upon breaking down wholes into parts. Reality consists of a plurality of essentially different essences. This is what we call the Scepter Tradition, and it is best represented by Aquinas.
	There are those in the analytic tradition who find only one constituent part upon breaking down wholes into parts. Reality consists of a single component - forces that differ only in magnitude and direction. This is what we call the Sword Tradition, and it is best represented by Hobbes.
	There are those in the synthetic tradition who find that there is only one unified whole. Pluralities are reduced to a unity until all distinctness and difference is overcome in a final synthesis. This is what we call the Spirit Tradition, and it is best represented by various mystical writers and poets.
	Finally, there are those in the synthetic tradition who find that there are many unified wholes and that reality consists of a plurality of different self-organizing systems. This is what we call the Seed tradition, and it is best represented by Rousseau.

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