Understanding Asian Philosophy
Alexus McLeod
Understanding Asian Philosophy introduces the four major Asian traditions through their key texts and thinkers: the Analects of Confucius, the Daoist text Zhuangzi, the early Buddhist Suttas, and the Bhagavad Gita. Approached through the central issue of ethical development, this engaging introduction reveals the importance of moral self-cultivation and provides a firm grounding in the origins of Asian thought.
Leading students confidently through complex texts, Understanding Asian Philosophy includes a range of valuable features:
brief biographies of main thinkers such as Confucius and Zhuangzi
primary source material and translations
maps and timelines
comprehensive lists of recommended reading and links to further study resources
relevant philosophical questions at the end of each chapter
As well as sections on other texts and thinkers in the tradition, there are frequent references to contemporary examples and issues. Each chapter also discusses other thinkers in different traditions in the West, presenting various comparative approaches. With its clear focus on thinkers and texts, Understanding Asian Philosophy is an ideal undergraduate introduction to Chinese, Indian, Buddhist and Daoist thought.
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About Alexus McLeod
Reviews for Understanding Asian Philosophy
Roger T. Ames, Professor of Philosophy, University of Hawai’i at Manoa, USA Understanding Asian Philosophy delivers what its title promises in a refreshingly clear and concise manner. Well-focused on one key text from each of the four major traditions of Asian philosophy, McLeod's book is an insightful and stimulating introduction to the main issues at stake in these texts and the traditions they helped generate.
Bret W. Davis, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Loyola University Maryland, USA