In the history of philosophy, in particular, in the history of early American philosophy, there is a person who deserves special attention, because the extraordinary ideas of this thinker greatly influenced the science of the 18th century. We are talking about Cadwallader Colden, who was an extremely active scientist. He published several treatises on physics, mathematics, ethics, and he studied the nature of mind, psyche, physiology, and the cosmos in which man lives. His cosmological doctrine was formed under the influence (...) of the natural philosophy of Isaac Newton, and it was proof of the existence of philosophical discourse on different sides of the Atlantic Ocean. The purpose of the article is not to test the validity of the ideas of the early American philosopher, not to critically examine the doctrine through the prism of modern physics and cosmology, but to try to assess self-valuable philosophical ideas. The article demonstrates that Cadwallader Colden was a unique and individual philosopher, with original teachings in natural Philosophy and Cosmology. His views on the nature of physical phenomena were similar to mental phenomena; he carefully studied the properties of bodies and the nature of their impact. Using the ancient concept of the ether, he tried to explain the nature of gravity, which keeps the Planets of the Solar System in their orbits. In his understanding, it is impossible to imagine the process of transferring power from one agent to another without an intermediary, and he considered ether to be this intermediary. Since the theory of gravity is still a theory, a philosophical analysis of this phenomenon remains relevant, and an appeal to the cosmological experience of philosophers of the past will allow us to look at the problem from a different angle. (shrink)

In studying the characteristics of cultures, literature and philosophies of different civilisations, scholars inevitably wish to search for similar and different features inherent in particular societies. When this desire is completely justified, then certain questions remain that require additional reflection. For instance, studying the cosmological and natural-philosophical ideas inherent in Ancient China and among Native Americans, scholars face the difficult task of logically substantiating the possibility of studying these two diametrically opposed cultures together. This article is based on a general (...) overview of cosmological and philosophical views in Ancient China and among Native Americans. The authors reveal an important principle that significantly distinguishes “non-Western” cultures and manifests itself in ethnocentrism and harmonization of the relationship between humans and nature. The article gives a logical basis for research and attempts to answer the question of whether Feng shui practice is a science or a religion. To this end, the legacy of Yang Yunsong, one of the founders of the teachings of Feng shui, a Chinese sage of the Tang era from Guangdong province, was studied. The authors suggest that Yang Yunsong’s cosmology, geomancy, and Feng shui practice have much in common with the worldview of indigenous peoples around the world, particularly the Native Americans. (shrink)