Introduction to Eastern Thought

by Marietta Stepaniants

Overview

Marietta Stepaniants' introductory text allows a distinctively Eastern way of thinking to come forth. Four interpretive essays open the book showing how Indian, Chinese and Islamic traditions responded to these questions: How did philosophy arise? What is the origin of order in the universe? What is human nature? What is truth? A fifth, unique, essay shows how Eastern thought has dealt with Western contact in the 19th and 20th centuries. In the second half of the book, original writings—ancient and modern—are placed in their cultural context by the author and give access to the thinkers' specific arguments. Unlike any other text, Introduction to Eastern Thought includes Islamic philosophies alongside Indian and Chinese traditions. This broader sense of 'the East,' the combination of interpretive essays and original sources, the sense of Eastern philosophies as alive and ongoing, are unrivalled by any other textbook. Comparisons within and across traditions make Introduction to Eastern Thought an excellent text for students familiar with Western philosophy or beginning philosophy students.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780742504332
Publisher:	AltaMira Press
Publication date:	05/07/2002
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Marietta Stepaniants is the Director of the Center for Oriental Philosophies Studies at the Institute of Philosophy, Russian Academy of Sciences where she has been working since 1959. She is the author of ten books including Islamic Philosophy and Social Thought: 19th-20th Centuries, Sufi Wisdom, Gandhi and the World Today. Among more than 20 volumes edited by her: Rationalistic Tradition and Modernity. In 3 volumes, History of of Indian Philosophy: A Russian Viewpoint, Feminism: East-West-Russia, Democracy and Justice: A Cross-cultural Perspectives. Her writings have been translated and published in eighteen countries. For 15 years Dr. Stepaniants was a professor of the Diplomatic Academy; in recent years, she has been Chair of Oriental Philosophies at the Russian State University of Humanities (Moscow). Dr.Stepaniants has played a key role in developing comparative studies in Russia. She was the Director for 7th & 8th East-West Philosophers' Conferences in Honolulu and is a corresponding member of the editorial board of a number academic journals, including Philosophy East and West , Social Sciences Research Journal.

Table of Contents

Part 1 One: Interpretive Essays Chapter 2 1. The Birth of Philosophy Chapter 3 2. The Universe: Its Origins and Structure Chapter 4 3. Human Nature Chapter 5 4. In Search of the Truth Chapter 6 5. Tradition and Modernity Part 7 Two: Sources Chapter 8 6. Indian Tradition Chapter 9 The Svetasvatara-upanisad Chapter 10 The Bhagavadgita Chapter 11 The Questions of King Milinda Chapter 12 The Acaranga Sutra Chapter 13 The Sarva-Darsana-Samgraha Chapter 14 Isvarakrsna's Samkhyarika Chapter 15 The Yoga Vasistha Chapter 16 The Nyaya-Sutras of Vatasyayana Chapter 17 The Vaisesika-Sutras of Kanada Chapter 18 The Brahma-Sutra-Bhasya of Sankara Chapter 19 The Common Bases of Hinduism Chapter 20 7. Chinese Tradition Chapter 21 Analects Chapter 22 The Book of Mencius Chapter 23 Tao Te Ching Chapter 24 ChuangTzu Chapter 25 Universal Love Chapter 26 The Recorded Conversations of Zen Master I-Hsuan Chapter 27 Fragments from the Complete Works Chapter 28 Inquiry on the Great Learning Chapter 29 Hsin li-hsueh Chapter 30 8. Muslim Tradition Chapter 31 Risala fi istihsan al-khawd fi 'ilm al-kalam Chapter 32 Fusul al-madani Chapter 33 Danish Nama Chapter 34 Tahafut al-falasifah Chapter 35 Fusus al-hikam Chapter 36 Al-Muqaddimah Chapter 37 The Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam

Editorial Reviews

In a time of mounting international conflicts it is inspiring and a breath of fresh air to read this enlightening book by the Russian author well known for her studies of Sufism. Instead of dividing the world into good and evil, Introduction to Eastern Thought acquaints the reader with the rich patrimony of world cultures—from India and Islam to China—from which we still have so much to learn. A particular virtue of the book is that it combines well informed and erudite interpretations with an extensive collection of primary sources. A much-needed contribution to cross-cultural understanding in our troubled world.

Fred Dallmayr

Marietta Stepaniants' Introduction to Eastern Thought raises important questions about the nature of philosophy in the Indian, Chinese, and Islamic traditions. Presenting the distinctive perspective of Russian scholarship, she provides lucid interpretations along with translations of essential primary sources, both medieval and modern. This book is required reading for anyone interested in a truly global concept of philosophy, and it should become the standard reference in courses on world philosophy.

Carl Ernst

This volume is a triumph of the spirit of cultural accommodation and inclusiveness that is driving the comparative philosophy movement. And as an internationally renonwed voice in this movement, Marietta Stepanients is singularly equipped in breadth of scholarship and in passion to offer the academy her interpretation of world wisdom. This survey includes both interpretive insight and a rich vein of the original philosophical literature, both context and content. It belongs on the bookshelf of every serious student of world culture.

Roger T. Ames

Professor Marietta Stepaniants is in many ways uniquely qualified to present non-western philosophical traditions to western students of philosophy. Having authored ten books and edited over twenty volumes in both western and mainly, modern Muslim philosophy, and having spent many months living in nonwestern countries, Stepaniants is widely recognized internationally as one of the most outstanding interpreters of Asian thought. She is able to present extremely difficult ideas, often quite alien to westerners, with clarity and deep understanding.

From The Foreword - Eliot Deutsch

A translation of the first Russian textbook on Eastern philosophies. Covering Islamic, Chinese, and Indian traditions, Stepaniants (Center for Oriental Philosophies Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences) avoids the academic jargon of the Anglo-American analytic tradition in an effort to capture the interest of younger readers. She places more emphasis on the Islamic tradition than the others in her interpretations of the philosophical conceptions of the structure and origin of the universe, human nature, the search for truth, and tradition and modernity. She also examines and places in context a number of original writings from the three philosophical traditions. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

Marietta Stepaniants' Introduction to Eastern Thought raises important questions about the nature of philosophy in the Indian, Chinese, and Islamic traditions. Presenting the distinctive perspective of Russian scholarship, she provides lucid interpretations along with translations of essential primary sources, both medieval and modern. This book is required reading for anyone interested in a truly global concept of philosophy, and it should become the standard reference in courses on world philosophy.--Carl Ernst, (University of North Carolina)

Professor Marietta Stepaniants is in many ways uniquely qualified to present non-western philosophical traditions to western students of philosophy. Having authored ten books and edited over twenty volumes in both western and mainly, modern Muslim philosophy, and having spent many months living in nonwestern countries, Stepaniants is widely recognized internationally as one of the most outstanding interpreters of Asian thought. She is able to present extremely difficult ideas, often quite alien to westerners, with clarity and deep understanding.--Eliot Deutsch, University of Hawaii "From The Foreword "

This volume is a triumph of the spirit of cultural accommodation and inclusiveness that is driving the comparative philosophy movement. And as an internationally renonwed voice in this movement, Marietta Stepanients is singularly equipped in breadth of scholarship and in passion to offer the academy her interpretation of world wisdom. This survey includes both interpretive insight and a rich vein of the original philosophical literature, both context and content. It belongs on the bookshelf of every serious student of world culture.--Roger T. Ames, University of Hawai'i

From the Publisher