This work in comparative philosophy uses the concept of Titanism to critique certain trends in both Eastern and Western philosophy. Titanism is an extreme form of humanism in which human beings take on divine attributes and prerogatives. The author finds the most explicit forms of spiritual Titanism in the Jaina, Samkhya, and Yoga traditions, where yogis claim powers and knowledge that in the West are only attributed to God. These philosophies are also radically dualistic, and liberation involves a complete transcendence of the body, society, and nature. Five types of spiritual Titanism are identified; and, in addition to this typology, a heuristic based on Nietzsche's three metamorphoses of camel, lion, and child is offered. The book determines that answers to spiritual Titanism begin not only with the Hindu Goddess religion, but also are found in Buddhism, Confucianism, and Daoism, especially Zen Buddhism and Confucianism.

Nicholas F. Gier is Professor of Philosophy and Coordinator of Religious Studies at the University of Idaho.

Preface

xi

Acknowledgments

xvii

Introduction

1

(1)

Introduction

1

(1)

The Titans: Superhuman and Superdivine

2

(7)

Uttaravada versus Avataravada

9

(3)

Summaries of the Chapters

12

(5)

Nietzsche's Ubermensch Not a Titan

17

(6)

Titanism in the West

23

(16)

Introduction

23

(1)

Humanism and Superhumanism

24

(3)

Existentialism and Titanism

27

(2)

Christian Titanism and the Incarnation

29

(4)

Western Answers to Titanism

33

(6)

The Self and Constructive Postmodernism

39

(20)

Introduction

39

(1)

Premodernism, Modernism, and Postmodernism

40

(5)

Hebraic and Buddhist Skandhas

45

(3)

Problems with Indian Dualisms

48

(3)

A Critique of Advaita Vedanta

51

(3)

A Buddhist Dialectic of Reconstruction

54

(2)

Conclusions

56

(3)

Prometheus East: Greek and Hindu Titans

59

(20)

Introduction

59

(1)

Asura Titanism

60

(7)

Human Titans in the Puranas

67

(5)

Titans and Olympians

72

(4)

Conclusions

76

(3)

Jaina Superhumanism and Gnostic Titanism

79

(20)

Introduction

79

(1)

Jaina Colossi and the Cosmic Man

80

(2)

The Status of the Jaina Gods

82

(1)

Man Is God and Homo Mensura

83

(2)

Omniscience: Mahavira and the Buddha

85

(5)

Anekantavada and Gnostic Titanism

90

(2)

Panzooism, Mind-Body, and Process Philosophy

92

(5)

Conclusions

97

(2)

Hindu Titanism

99

(14)

Introduction

99

(1)

Types of Indian Titanism

100

(2)

Yoga Titanism

102

(2)

The Purusa Hymn and its Legacy

104

(4)

The Purusa as Cosmic Yogi

108

(1)

Monism, Ecology, and Titanism

109

(4)

The Yogi and the Goddess

113

(26)

Prologue: The Dancing Goddess

113

(1)

Introduction

114

(1)

The Material Principle: East and West

114

(3)

The Goddess in Indian Philosophy

117

(3)

Puranic Expressions of the Goddess

120

(7)

Kurtz's Psychoanalytic Interpretation

127

(3)

Does the Goddess Speak with a Woman's Voice?

130

(4)

Conclusions

134

(2)

Epilogue: The Triumph of the Goddess

136

(3)

Neo-Vedanta and Aurobindo's Superman

139

(18)

Introduction

139

(1)

Ramakrishna: Kali's Child

140

(5)

Vivekananda's ``Manly'' Neo-Vedanta

145

(3)

Supermind, Superman, and Supernature

148

(7)

Conclusions

155

(2)

Buddhism, Humanism, and Titanism

157

(20)

Introduction

157

(1)

Buddhist Humanism

158

(3)

The Buddha Is Just the Buddha

161

(2)

The Buddha as Mahapurisa

163

(1)

The Cosmological Buddha of Mahayana

164

(3)

The Siddhas: Buddha's Lions

167

(4)

Zen, the Body, and Society

171

(5)

Conclusions

176

(1)

On the Deification of Confucius

177

(14)

Introduction

177

(1)

A History of Confucius' Elevation

178

(6)

Is the Sage God?

184

(5)

The Sage as a Great Person

189

(2)

Xunzi and Neo-Confucianism

191

(16)

Introduction

191

(1)

Xunzi, Tian, and the Cosmic Triad

192

(3)

Is Xunzi a Technological Titan?

195

(4)

Machle: Xunzi Not a Titan

199

(2)

Neo-Confucianism and Titanism

201

(4)

Self, Body, and Society

205

(2)

Laozi, Zhuangzi, and Nietzsche

207

(30)

Introduction

207

(1)

Purusa and Panku

208

(4)

Immortality and the Immortals

212

(3)

Zhuangzi and Postmodernism

215

(6)

Zhuangzi and the Perfect Person

221

(5)

Zhuangzi and Nietzsche

226

(7)

The Triumph of the Confucian Sage

233

(4)

Notes

237

(46)

Selected Bibliography

283

(14)

Index

297

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