ABSTRACT
Philosophy, in the broadest sense of the term, can be found in all civilizations. However, there were some civilizations, such as those of ancient India, China, and Greece, in which philosophy was cultivated more systematically. In these civilizations philosophical thought was put into written form. This gives us, who are living today, better access to those thoughts. The written form also allowed philosophers to record and communicate their thoughts in a different manner than in those civilizations that were based only on the spoken word. That which is written endures. It is possible to return to certain formulations in order to ask questions and to elucidate what was really meant. Analysis and criticism become possible in a radically new way.
