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, selfcontrol, ethics, and philosophy of science. Finally, an extension of OR/MS education programmes toward philosophy will be recommended (Section 4).