Understanding Non-Western Philosophy : Introductory Readings

by Bonevac, Daniel A.; Phillips, Stephen H.

• ISBN13: 9781559340779
• ISBN10: 1559340770
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1993-01-14
• Publisher: MCG
• More Book Details
• Purchase Benefits

Summary

This collection of important readings in African, Asian, and Southern Mediterranean philosophy is the perfect supplement for instructors who wish to introduce non-Western materials to their students. The readings are presented chronologically within four sections covering the following geographical areas: Africa, West Asia, North Africa, Islamic Spain, South Asia, and East Asia.

Table of Contents

Preface • Time Line

PART I. AFRICA

Ancient Egypt: From The Instruction of Ptahhotep • The Song from the Tomb of King Intef • The Dispute Between a Man and His Ba • From The Instruction of Any • From The Book of the Dead

Enlightenment Ethiopia: Zera Yacob, from The Treatise of Zera Yacob • Walda Heywat, from The Treatise of Walda Heywat

Contemporary Perspectives: Frantz Fanon, from The Wretched of the Earth • Kwasi Wiredu, from Philosophy and an African Culture

PART II. WEST ASIA, NORTH AFRICA, AND SPAIN

Platonism: Philo, from Allegorical Interpretation • Philo, from On the Account of the World’s Creation Given by Moses • Philo, from On Drunkenness • Philo, from On the Confusion of Tongues • Philo, from The Special Laws • Philo, from On Rewards and Punishments • Philo, from Concerning Noah’s Work as a Planter • Origen, from On Principles • Augustine, from The Enchiridion • Augustine, from The City of God • Augustine, from Answer to SkepticsCreationism: Al-Kindi, from On First Philosophy • Saadia ben Joseph, from The Book of Beliefs and Opinions • Al-Ghazali, from The Incoherence of the Philosophers • Maimonides, from The Guide of the Perplexed • Maimonides, The Purpose of Man

Rationalism: Al-Farabi, from Principles of the Views of the Citizens of the Best State • Avicenna, from A Treatise on Logic • Avicenna, On the Nature of God • Averroës, from The Incoherence of the Incoherence

PART III. SOUTH ASIA

Samkhya, Yoga, and the Bhagavad Gita: from the Katha Upanishad • From the Bhagavad Gita (Song of God) • From the Yogasutra • Isvarakrsna, from the Verses on Analysis of Nature (Samkhya-karika)

Early Buddhism: The First Sermon • From the Majjhima-Nikaya • Buddhaghosa, from The Path of Purification (Visuddhi-Magga) • From Questions to King Milinda (Milindapanha) • Buddhaghosa, The Duration of LifeJainism: From the Acaranga Sutra • Vadi Devasuri, from The Ornament Illuminating the Means and Principles of Knowledge (Pramana-naya-tattvalokalankarah)

Nagarjuna and Madhyamika Buddhism: Nagarjuna, from Averting the Arguments • Candrakirti, from Reasoning into Reality

Buddhist Idealism and Logic: From The Surangama Sutra • Dignaga, from The Investigation of the Object of Awareness (Alambanapariksa) With Extracts from Vinitadeva’s Commentary • Dharmakirti, from The Pith of Right Thinking (Nyayabindu) With a Commentary by DharmottaraMimamsa (Exegesis): Kumarila, from The SlokavarttikaCarvaka Skepticism: From Madhava’s Compendium of PhilosophyNyaya-Vaisesika Epistemic Logic and Ontology: From the Vaisesika Sutra • From the Nyaya-sutra With a Commentary by Vatsyayana • Udayana, from Proofs of the Existence of God • Gangesa, from The Jewel of Thought about Reality (Tattvacintamani)

Vedanta: From the Rg Veda • From the Brhadaranyaka Upanishad • From the Mundaka Upanishad • Sankara, from Brahmasutra Commentary • Sriharsa, Critique of Difference • Rupa Gosvami, The Mystical Theology of Passion • Vivekananda, Addresses at the Parliament of Religions • Aurobindo, from The Life Divine

Modern Academic Philosophy: J. N. Mohanty, Gilbert Ryle’s Criticisms of the Concept of Consciousness • B. K. Matilal, from Perception: An Essay on Classical Indian Theories of Knowledge

PART IV. EAST ASIA

Confucianism: Confucius, from The Analects • The Great Learning • Mencius, from The Book of Mencius • Hsun Tzu, from the Hsun Tzu

Taoism: Lao Tzu, from Tao-te Ching • Chuang Tzu, from the Chuang Tzu • The Yang Chu ChapterOther Schools: Mo Tzu, from Universal Love • Wang Ch-ung, from Balanced Inquiries

Chinese Buddhism: Hsuan-tsang, from The Treatise on the Establishment of the Doctrine of Consciousness-Only • Fa-tsang, from Treatise on the Golden Lion • Fa-tsang, from Hundred Gates to the Sea of Ideas of the Flowery Splendor Scripture • The Recorded Conversations of Zen Master I-HsuanNeo-Confucianism: Chu Hsi, from The Philosophy of Human Nature • Wang Yang-Ming, from Instructions for Practical Life • Wang Yang-Ming, from Record of Discourses • Wang Yang-Ming, from Reply to Ku Tung-Ch’iao • Wang Fu-chih, from The Surviving Works of Wang Fu-Chih

Japanese Buddhism: Kitaro Nishida, from An Inquiry into the Good • D. T. Suzuki, from Zen Buddhism • Keiji Nishitani, from Science and Zen

Pronunciation Guide

Glossary

Index