--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This may seem labouring the obvious, but…" description: "\"“This may seem labouring the obvious, but in Japan one meets intelligent people who claim that ‘logic’ is something invented in the West to allow Weste..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/karel-van-wolferen-107981_intelligent-people_this-may-seem-labouring-the-obvious-but_1913350.jpg" --- # This may seem labouring the obvious, but in Japan one… ![“This may seem labouring the obvious, but in Japan one meets intelligent people who claim that ‘logic’ is something invented in the West to allow Westerners to win discussions. Indeed, the belief is widespread that the Japanese can as happily do without logic now as they supposedly have for…” quote by Karel Van Wolferen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/karel-van-wolferen-107981_intelligent-people_this-may-seem-labouring-the-obvious-but_1913350.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/karel-van-wolferen-107981_intelligent-people_this-may-seem-labouring-the-obvious-but_1913350.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/karel-van-wolferen-107981_intelligent-people_this-may-seem-labouring-the-obvious-but_1913350.jpg) > ““This may seem labouring the obvious, but in Japan one meets intelligent people who claim that ‘logic’ is something invented in the West to allow Westerners to win discussions. Indeed, the belief is widespread that the Japanese can as happily do without logic now as they supposedly have for centuries past.”” [Karel Van Wolferen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karel-van-wolferen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Some Japanese claim logic is a Western invention, suggesting they can think without it. **In simple terms:** Logic may be seen as a Western invention. Key Takeaway Question cultural assumptions about logic. Themes Logic Culture Western influence Japanese thought Mood curious critical Type observation analysis When to use this quote - Cross‑cultural dialogue - Education - Debates on reasoning Key Concepts Philosophy Cognitive anthropology Sociolinguistics Questions to Reflect On - Do you rely on logic? - How does culture shape reasoning? A Different Perspective Logic is universal; cultural claim may be overstated. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Allow Westerners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allow-westerners-2894738/) [Intelligent people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligent-people/) [Invented West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invented-west-2894739/) [Japan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/japan/) [Logic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/logic/) [Logic Invented](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/logic-invented-2894736/) [Logic Supposedly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/logic-supposedly-2894737/) ## Related quotes > [The creation lives as genesis beneath the visible surface of the work. 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