Description |
x, 186 pages ; 23 cm |
Series |
American university studies. Series V, Philosophy ; vol. 165 |
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American university studies. Series V, Philosophy ; vol. 165
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Contents |
Ch. I. Kinds of Freedom -- Ch. II. The Zeusian Principle of Activity. Confucianism's Zeusian Freedom. Four Additional Examples of Zeusian Freedom. The Jewish Approach to Zeusian Freedom. Stoicism. Indian Monism - The Advaita Vedanta. Kant's Zeusian Approach -- Ch. III. The Promethean Principle of Activity. Promethean Freedom -- Ch. IV. The Epimethean Principle of Activity. Epimethean Freedom -- Ch. V. Tantric Value Indeterminacy. 1. Tantricism as a Practical Zeusian-Epimethean Synthesis. Karma. Dharma. 2. The Systematic Ambiguity of the Tantric Texts. Mircea Eliade's Thesis. Philip Rawson's Thesis. Shahidullah's Commentary to Kanha. The Intentional Language of Tantricism. 3. Value Indeterminacy as Means of a Synthesis -- Ch. VI. The Outlines of a Synthesis. The Scope and Limitations of the Different Ideas of Freedom. The Limitations of Abstract Freedom Ideas. A Concrete Approach to Freedom and the Possibility of a Synthesis -- Epilogue: Spontaneity and Freedom |
Summary |
This book explores Eastern and Western ideas of freedom and reveals the essential differences, as well as similarities, between Eastern and Western cultural values. Inspired by an ancient Greek myth recounted by Protagoras, the authors suggest that three important values tend to motivate human activity: achieving pleasure, achieving results, and obeying moral law. Then, drawing on intellectual sources ranging from traditional Hinduism to modern existentialism, the authors proceed to show how these values - pleasure, efficiency, and morality - determine the idea of freedom as it appears in various philosophical systems of East and West. In the course of their analysis, the idea of freedom is itself emancipated from the usual kinds of cultural boundaries that have so often limited both its usefulness and its timeliness |
Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references (pages [167]-181) and index |
Subject |
Free will and determinism.
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Liberty.
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East and West.
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Ethics, Comparative.
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Philosophy, Comparative.
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Author |
Erev, Anan.
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LC no. |
94015186 |
ISBN |
0820425141 paperback |
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