Buddhism and Hinduism; Confucianism and Taoism; Jainism; Materialism; 輪迴=轉世=Reincarnation=Rebirth=Samsara; Hackett, Stuart C.; Chinese Buddhism; Confucianism; Hinduism; Indian Buddhism; Oriental Philosophy; Taoism
摘要
Stuart C. Hackett's insightful explication of oriental philosophy meets a long felt need for a critical introduction to four systems of eastern thought-Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, and Hinduism-presented in familiar western terms. Students of comparative religion, eastern philosophy and civilization, and the philosophy of religion who have been trained in traditional western modes of thought often find the intuitive and aphoristic quality of eastern writing a major stumbling block to understanding. This is eastern philosophy presented to westerners by a westerner, a practical and understandable guide for students and for others who wish to expand their understanding in this important area. The book deals neither with the historical and cultural setting of oriental viewpoints, nor even with the religious beliefs and ritual practices that characteristically provide a context for these viewpoints, but rather with a systematic and critical analysis of oriental perspectives as alternative philosophical positions. At the same time, Hackett provides a succinct historical framework, so that the student may place these systems in perspective. In an introductory chapter, Hackett poses what he sees as the four hallmarks of eastern philosophy which distinguish it from the western: unlike western philosophy, which has weaned itself away from its religious roots, classical oriental philosophy is still religious in nature, context, and objective; it is tolerantly inclusivist, to the point of accepting or even incorporating other divergent viewpoints; it is characteristically expressed in a rambling, fertilely insightful style rather than a precise and rationalistic one; and finally, it does not usually conceive of absolute reality in terms of personalities, as for instance, does Christianity. While granting these essential differences between the eastern and western approach, the author discards the classic oriental form of exposition in favor of a more discursive and conceptually analytic form, in order to guide the western student through the subject with ease and understanding. The author's design is ideally suited to quick reference and convenient comprehension of abstract material. Major points of the text are outlined throughout the book, to aid in reviewing the material. In a style largely free from technical complexity and obscure language, Hackett leads the reader from an explanation of a major philosophy to an open-ended discussion of it. Each of the four major chapters for instance, begins with the author's personal response. Also included is an extensive glossary of both western and eastern philosophical terms, of inestimable value to the student. Stuart C. Hackett, formerly Professor of Philosophy at Wheaton College and now Professor of Philosophy of Religion at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, is the author of The Resurrection of Theism (Moody Press, 1957). He also edited, with George I. Mavrodes, Problems and Perspectives in the Philosophy of Religion (Allyn and Bacon, 1967).
