North America In North America, Indigenous groups North of Mesoamerica often lack pre-colonial written histories. However, some oral traditions survived colonization. A common symbol for these groups were the six directions. Many considered the directions east, west, north, south, up, and down to be sacred to their understanding of the world. Some believe that this symbol cements a sense of place among the Indigenous groups who share it. Among the
Hopi, there is a concept known as
hopivotskwani, translating roughly to "the Hopi path of life". It entails behaving with a peaceful disposition, cooperation, humility, and respect. Hopi philosophy teaches that life is a journey, to be lived in harmony with the natural world. Thus, the Hopi believe that following
hopivotskwani will lead to positive outcomes not only in interpersonal relationships, but also in interactions with nature, for example ensuring sufficient rainfall and a good harvest. As a rule, contemporary
Pueblo peoples are very reluctant to share their traditional philosophical and spiritual worldviews with outsiders. This can be attributed to several factors, among them abuse of trust by early anthropologists and colonial Spanish intolerance for traditional Puebloan religions.
Central America Perhaps the best documented philosophical tradition of the Precolumbian and early colonial era is that of the Aztecs, a
Nahuatl-speaking people who established a large and sophisticated empire in central Mexico prior to being conquered by the Spanish. Mesoamerican thought and philosophy is notable for its extensive usage of metaphor to explain abstract concepts. The Aztecs thought of philosophy in more or less pragmatic and practical terms. A central feature of Aztec philosophy was the concept of
teotl, a
Nahuatl term for the animating force of the cosmos and an ever-acting and dynamic mover.
Teotl in theological terms could also symbolize a type of
pantheism.
Nahua philosophy was an intellectual tradition developed by individuals called
tlamatini ('those who know something') and its ideas are preserved in various
Aztec codices and fragmentary texts. Some of these philosophers are known by name, such as
Nezahualcoyotl,
Aquiauhtzin,
Xayacamach,
Tochihuitzin coyolchiuhqui and Cuauhtencoztli. These authors were also poets and some of their work has survived in the original
Nahuatl. According to James Maffie, Nahua metaphysics posited that teotl is "a single, vital, dynamic, vivifying, eternally self-generating and self-conceiving as well as self-regenerating and self-reconceiving sacred energy or force". Young Inca nobles were educated in these disciplines at the state college of Yacha-huasi in
Cuzco, where they also learned the art of the
quipu. This singular force also arises as a set of dual complementary yet opposite forces. The Inca worldview also included the belief in a
creator God (
Viracocha) and
reincarnation.
Coyote tales Academic Brian Yazzie Burkhart shares this story of
Coyote: Eventually, the entire land is flooded. Coyote's mistake is not letting what is right guide his actions, but instead acting entirely on his own motivations. This is a reminder that one must be careful about what one desires, and must keep in mind the things around us and how we relate to them. Burkhart terms this the principle of relatedness. ==References==