Eastern Philosophy - Softcover

Kevin Burns

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1841931918 ISBN 13: 9781841931913

Publisher: Arcturus Publishing Limited, 2004

Synopsis

A clear and engaging presentation of history's most influential Eastern thinkersEastern Philosophy provides a detailed but accessible analysis of the work of nearly sixty thinkers from all of the major Eastern philosophical traditions, from the earliest times to the present day. Covering systems, schools, and individuals, Eastern Philosophy presents founder figures such as Zoroaster and Mohammed as well as modern thinkers such as Nishida Kitaro, perhaps the preeminent figure within modern Japanese philosophy. From Buddhism to Islam, Confucius to Gandhi, the systems of Indian philosophy to the Kyoto School, concepts and individuals are introduced in a lively and lucid narrative. Eastern Philosophy is a thought-provoking and stimulating exploration of fundamental ideas and an array of personalities that is sure to encourage further investigation. A comprehensive glossary, Web resources, and a bibliography further enhance the volume.

About this title

About the Author

Kevin Burns graduated from Oxford University with a degree in English literature. He has worked in publishing, and is now a writer, teacher, and lecturer. He lives in East Sussex, England, with his wife and two children.

From School Library Journal

Grade 9 Up–As its subtitle indicates, Burns's text is organized around people rather than ideas or chronology. The anonymous Upanishads get their own entry, but generally, uppercase or boldface personal names introduce specific philosophical positions. Eastern guidebooks often overlook Zoroastrianism and Islam, but Burns devotes a quarter of the space to them. Readers reach Gandhi, Mao, and Nishida in the 20th century, but not Falun Gong. Pace, vocabulary, allusions, and complex ideas mark this as a volume for advanced students; the writing is neither clear nor lively enough to entice beginners. The absence of summaries or digests of each philosophy makes this volume most useful for those seeking the contributions of individual thinkers. The typeface is small and faint, and the index is eye-defyingly compressed. Eastern Religions (Oxford, 2005), edited by Michael D. Coogan, has more than twice as many pages and full-color illustrations.–Patricia D. Lothrop, St. George's School, Newport, RI
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Edition details

• Publisher: Arcturus Publishing Limited
• Publication date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1841931918
• ISBN 13: 9781841931913
• Binding: Paperback