A comparative history of world philosophy : from the Upanishads to Kant / Ben-Ami Scharfstein. [electronic resource]

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Scharfstein, Ben-Ami, 1919-2019.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Philosophy, Comparative.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xiv, 685 p. )

Place of Publication:

Albany : State University of New York Press, c1998.

Summary:

"A Comparative History of World Philosophy presents a personal yet balanced guide through what the author argues to be the three great philosophical traditions: Chinese, European, and Indian. The book breaks through the cultural barriers between these traditions, proving that despite their considerable differences, fundamental resemblances exist in their abstract principles. Ben-Ami Scharfstein argues that Western students of philosophy will profit considerably if they study Indian and Chinese philosophy from the very beginning, along with their own." "This book is organized thematically, presenting in virtually every chapter characteristic views from each tradition that represent similar positions in the core areas of metaphysics and epistemology. At the same time, Scharfstein develops each tradition historically as the chapters unfold. He presents a great variety of philosophical positions fairly, avoiding the relativism and ethnocentrism that could easily plague a comperative presentation of Western and non-Western philosophies."--Jacket.

Contents:

The three philosophical traditions

The beginnings of metaphysical philosophy : Uddalaka, Yajnavalkya, Heraclitus, Parmenides

The beginnings of moral philosophy : Confucius/Mencius, the Buddha, Socrates

Early logical relativism, skepticism, and absolutism : Mahavira, Chuang-tzu, Protagoras, Gorgias, Plato

Early rational synthesis : Hsün-tzu, Aristotle

Early varieties of atomism : Democritus/Epicurus/Lucretius, "Guatama," and nameless Buddhists

Hierarchical idealism : Plotinus/Proclus, Bhartrihari

Developed skepticism : Sextus Empiricus, Nagarjuna, Jayarashi, Shriharsha

Religio-philosophical synthesis : Udayana, Chu Hsi, Avicenna, Maimonides, Aquinas

Logic-sensitized, methodological metaphysics : Gangesha, Descartes, Leibniz

Immanent-transcendent holism : Shankara, Spinoza

Perceptual analysis, realistic and idealistic : Asanga/Vasubandhu, Locke, Berkeley, Hume

Fideistic neo-skepticism : Dignaga/Dharmakirti, Kant.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (p. 655-657) and index.

ISBN:

0-585-06693-0