Within the Four Seas


Book Description

First published in 1969. Contains some of Joseph Needham's most significant essays, lectures and broadcasts on the history of Chinese science, technology and culture. Also included are some more personal thoughts stimulated by his own travels and experiences in China, including a number of poems. The book discusses the valuable social and intellectual influences which have flowed to Europe from South as well as East Asia, and suggests that the events of the twentieth century were a natural development of Chinese history, not a deviation from it.




A Dialogue Between East and West


Book Description

How far do cultures affect the future of the planet? Can the debate on the environment and global warming be influenced by the cultures of East and West understanding each other better? In this consistently provocative dialogue, two of the most influential thinkers of recent times propose that only a 'human revolution' - a shift in the hearts and minds of individuals - can stimulate a revolution in humanity's relationship with the planet. Such a planetary revolution first requires a transformation of moral and political leadership, and an orientation towards the future rather than a preoccupation with the short-termist policies of the present.Responding to humanity's ills from the Buddhist perspective, and with all the accumulated wisdom of the eastern philosophical tradition, Daisaku Ikeda calls for politicians to take as their mainstays a respect for the dignity of life and an eloquence to inspire in people a sense of community and courage. Correspondingly, renowned western economist and scholar of education Ricardo Diez-Hochleitner stresses the importance of proper educational planning and development in addressing the challenges posed by poverty, inequality and climate change. While acknowledging the scale of the task that lies ahead, both men offer an inspiring and hopeful vision for the future.




Heidegger on East-West Dialogue


Book Description

This book traces a most obscure and yet most intriguing theme concealed in Heidegger’s thinking and work, which has hitherto not yet been made the focus of a thorough and sustained investigation: that is, the emergence and course of Heidegger’s interest in East Asian thought and of his reflection on East-West dialogue. Lin Ma covers such complex issues as Heidegger’s thoughts on language, Being, technology, the other beginning, and the journey abroad, with a view to their implications for East-West dialogue. It reveals the significance of his remarks on the early Greek’s confrontation with the Asiatic, and presents contextualized interpretations of his fleeting references to the topic of East-West dialogue and of his encounter with the Daodejing. Finally, it delves into "A dialogue on language" and exposes the strains and tensions that accompany Heidegger’s extension of dialogue and the Same, the two notions central to his thought, to the question of East-West dialogue. In the end, Lin Ma concludes that Heidegger’s fundamental concerns and philosophical orientations as articulated in terms of the history of Being and the other beginning have restricted him from engaging more seriously with the irresolvable and yet enduring issue of East-West dialogue.




Philosophy of Education in Dialogue between East and West


Book Description

This edited book opens a dialogue on theories and philosophies of education between the East and the West in the era of globalisation. A great deal of research has been devoted to discussion of the ideas of Western theorists such as Plato, Aristotle, Locke, Rousseau, Kant, Fröbel, Herbert, Dewey, Piaget, and so on, and their thoughts have had a tremendous impact on Japanese educational practices. In addition, the 21st-century society has promoted international academic standardisation of knowledge, skills, and competencies for a knowledge-based economy, making great strides in educational development for globalisation. On the other hand, East Asia has retained its own unique insights and perspectives that cannot entirely be understood by Western philosophies of education alone. The contributors to this volume offer the reader insights into how Japanese and East Asian theories and philosophies of education encounter those from the West, by taking up heated and controversial issues such as education of caring, morality, nature, catastrophe, body and cultivation, art, language, politics, democracy, and modernity. The book will appeal to researchers, teachers, students, policymakers, and anyone interested in the theory and philosophy of education in the East, or those who would like to reconsider education in a multicultural society.




The Monk and the Philosopher


Book Description

Jean Francois-Revel, a pillar of French intellectual life in our time, became world famous for his challenges to both Communism and Christianity. Twenty-seven years ago, his son, Matthieu Ricard, gave up a promising career as a scientist to study Tibetan Buddhism -- not as a detached observer but by immersing himself in its practice under the guidance of its greatest living masters. Meeting in an inn overlooking Katmandu, these two profoundly thoughtful men explored the questions that have occupied humankind throughout its history. Does life have meaning? What is consciousness? Is man free? What is the value of scientific and material progress? Why is there suffering, war, and hatred? Their conversation is not merely abstract: they ask each other questions about ethics, rights, and responsibilities, about knowledge and belief, and they discuss frankly the differences in the way each has tried to make sense of his life. Utterly absorbing, inspiring, and accessible, this remarkable dialogue engages East with West, ideas with life, and science with the humanities, providing wisdom on how to enrich the way we live our lives.




Philosophical Theology and East-West Dialogue


Book Description

Philosophical Theology and East-West Dialogue is a unique philosophical and theological analysis of certain key interactions between Eastern and Western thinkers. The book on the one hand contrasts general traits of Eastern, Buddhist thought and Western, Greek thought. However, in doing so it focuses on influential philosophers and theologians who manifest particular instances of wider issues. The result is a careful examination of basic questions that offers both broad implications and concrete specificity in its approach. The book itself is an instance of East-West dialogue. Independently of each other both authors had previously engaged in serious cross-cultural studies. The Japanese Inagaki had researched Western science and philosophy, then written in Japanese comparative studies of Japanese thought. The North American Jennings had researched Japanese theology. They brought these backgrounds together, dialoguing with each other until the present study emerged. Several creative Japanese thinkers, as well as important Westerners, are taken up. The study follows the lead of many Eastern impulses, but it also critically utilizes Western methods. Contemporary thinking on religious plurality is carefully examined. This new study is a must for those interested in philosophy and theology in general, and East-West interaction in particular.




The Trinity


Book Description

East/West Summit on the Holy Trinity Held in Moscow. Theologians and philosophers, typically rivals, synergized in their pursuit of truth and understanding regarding this central, unifying Christian belief, demonstrating respective strengths in marvelous complementary array. The next best thing to being there are the papers that were presented and polished for this volume.




Philosophy of Fearism


Book Description

This book is about a new philosophy that takes a specific focus on see the critical historical and everyday importance of the nature and role of fear in human existence. We seem to be at a time when fear has taken the lead and we are not yet able to understand it and manage it well enough. It is causing major problems from wars, to terrorism, to deterioration of our institutions which are operating in a culture of fear. Our health is deteriorating under the excess of fear in the world today. No other philosophy, not rationalism, existentialism or pragmatism etc., has given this focus to fear as does the philosophy of fearism. It is an original synthesis of an Eastern philosophy of fearism (developed by Desh Subba, from Nepal) and a Western philosophy of fearlessness (developmed by R. Michael Fisher). The book brings forth their unified vision of a Fearless Age that awaits humanity if we better learn how to manage fear and teach about it with a new lens. Subba calls this a fearist lens, and Fisher calls it a fearlessness lens. Together, working independently for the past 20 years, they each have recently met to collaborate on this global project and movement as "one philosophy of fearism." This is an essential text for leaders, students, parents, professionals and diverse people. Although it is not a self-help book, is goes deeper into helping our entire societies transform their relationship to fear and fearlessness. A must read for those who love philosophy and thinking critically about the 21st century.




For the Unity of All


Book Description

For the Unity of All offers significant and new contributions for the furthering of dialogue and the path to unity between East and West. In this excellent example of ecumenical theology, the author utilizes the resources of contemporary philosophy in an effort to shed some new light on centuries-old debates that perpetuate the division between the Christian churches.




MindScience


Book Description

What is the subtle relationship between mind and body? What can today's scientists learn about this relationship from masters of Buddhist thought? Is it possible that by combining Western and Eastern approaches, we can reach a new understanding of the nature of the mind, the human potential for growth, the possibilities for mental and physical health? MindScience explores these and other questions as it documents the beginning of a historic dialogue between modern science and Buddhism. The Harvard Mind Science Symposium brought together the Dalai Lama and authorities from the fields of psychiatry, psychology, neuroscience, and education. Here, they examine myriad questions concerning the nature of the mind and its relationship to the body.