Learning from Asian Philosophy / Edition 1

by Joel J. Kupperman

Overview

In an attempt to bridge the vast divide between classical Asian thought and contemporary Western philosophy, Joel J. Kupperman finds that the two traditions do not, by and large, supply different answers to the same questions. Rather, each tradition is searching for answers to their own set of questions—mapping out distinct philosophical investigations.

In this groundbreaking book, Kupperman argues that the foundational Indian and Chinese texts include lines of thought that can enrich current philosophical practice, and in some cases provide uniquely sophisticated insights. Special attention is given to the ethical issues of formation and fluidity of self, the nature and possibilities of choice, the compartmentalization of life implicit in some ethical systems, the variations of ethical demands from person to person, and the nature of philosophy itself as a communicative activity. This study will provide a wealth of information for philosophers seeking a closer knowledge of Asian philosophy and general readers with an interest in Eastern thought.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780195128321
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	11/04/1999
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	9.20(w) x 6.17(h) x 0.67(d)
Lexile:	1310L (what's this?)

About the Author

Joel J. Kupperman is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Connecticut, and has been a visiting professor at colleges in Oxford and Cambridge. His previous books include Ethical Knowledge (1970), The Foundations of Morality (1983), Character (1991), and Value . . . And What Follows (1999).

Table of Contents

IntroductionSection 1:. The Formation of the SelfSection 2:. The Fluidity of the SelfSection 3:. ChoiceSection 4:. The Scope of EthicsSection 5:. The Demands of EthicsSection 6:. Philosophy as CommunicationBibliographyIndex

Editorial Reviews

"Kupperman takes Confucius and company seriously, championing a focus on character and development of a 'second self' as appropriate for ethical philosophy. He brings in resources of Western ethical reflection, in which he is most accomplished, to engage the non-Western philosophers on important issues, including the very nature of philosophy."—Ethics

"An excellent resource for graduate students and professors seeking new ways to formulate and assess three major themes that run through the book: ethics, the self, and the nature of philosophical communication."—APA Newsletter

"It is in part because it both opens paths and draws the reader to travel further along them that Kupperman's book is an exemplary illustration of how we in the West can profit from resources available outside our own traditions."—Philosophy of East and West

"Kupperman's book is a useful, well-researched contribution to the philosophical works that compare and contrast western and Asian philosophical thought ... The book supports the emerging trend in western philosophical ethics to be more inclusive of global ethical perspectives."—Religious Studies Review

From the Publisher