The cultural roots linking Europe

It is argued that the cultural roots within Europe are powerful links and that there exist other regions as well, powerfully stamped by Indian, Chinese, Japanese, or Arabian and other cultures; we need a modus vivendi of ‘cooperative competition’; can OR/MS help (Section 1)? The history of European culture will be outlined (Section 2), particularly with a focus on European philosophy, beginning with the Greek pre-Socratics. Then, the influence of European philosophy on OR/MS will be sketched (Section 3) with respect to mathematics, state organisation, self-control, ethics, and philosophy of science. Finally, an extension of OR/MS education programmes toward philosophy will be recommended (Section 4).