What are some good books about eastern philosophy and history?
I started my eastern philosophical journey with Alan Watts, with his book The Way of Zen. He was a huge influence toward bringing eastern philosophy to the west in the 60's. There are also tons of audio clips of his teachings on YouTube.I've found two incredibly good books from eastern writers, both from India. The first is Sadhana: The Realization of Life by Rabrindranath Tagore. He begins with a powerful critique on western philosophy and how it contrasts to that of India. He then goes deep into his own philosophical ideas, nurtured by his rich spiritual environment and the Upanishads. Through awe inspiring poetic prose his sincere reverence for all existence emanates into the mind of the reader. It is honestly the most beautiful thing I have ever read, and enhanced my own perception of reality in a profound way.The second book is Raja Yoga by Swami Vivekananda. He is informed by the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and the scientific method. If you come from a place of agnostic scientific scepticism, this book can change your mind on what we are capable of understanding about consciousness. He emphasizes the importance of personal experience in any belief system. Do not blindly follow a leader, instead look for yourself. He then details the methods that have been successful at discovering the truths of the mind, and also explores the findings of these methods. I found it very informative and compelling.I hope this helps!
What are some good books on philosophy by Arab authors?
This an interesting question, because philosophy is inseparable from theology. So, in my mind, I think that some of the greatest Arab church Fathers are also some of the greatest philosophers.That being said, I would point to Saint Isaac the Syrian, and Saint John of Damascus.Saint John of Damascus wrote during a time when Islam was accusing Christians of worshiping idols, and some Christians were caving to the pressure. These Christians are corrected by Saint John of Damascus, and the other fathers of the seventh ecumenical council which defends religious iconography.My favorite work of his is “an exact exposition of the Orthodox Faith.”
Which books are recommended to study Eastern philosophy?
Love for Imperfect Things: How to Accept Yourself in a World Striving for PerfectionA #1 internationally bestselling book of spiritual wisdom about learning to love ourselves, with all our imperfections, by the Buddhist author of The Things You Can See Only When You Slow DownHearing the words "be good to yourself first, then to others" was like being struck by lightning.Many of us respond to the pressures of life by turning inward and ignoring problems, sometimes resulting in anxiety or depression. Others react by working harder at the office, at school, or at home, hoping that this will make ourselves and the people we love happier. But what if being yourself is enough? Just as we are advised on airplanes to take our own oxygen first before helping others, we must first be at peace with ourselves before we can be at peace with the world around us.In this beautiful follow-up to his international bestseller The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down, Zen Buddhist monk Haemin Sunim turns his trademark wisdom to the art of self-care, arguing that only by accepting yourself--and the flaws that make you who you are--can you have compassionate and fulfilling relationships with your partner, your family, and your friends. With more than thirty-five full-color illustrations, Love for Imperfect Things will appeal to both your eyes and your heart, and help you learn to love yourself, your life, and everyone in it.When you care for yourself first, the world begins to find you worthy of care.
Philosophy, were to start reading?
If you want to start with Kierkegaard, 'Sickness unto Death' is the book I'd recommend. However, be warned that while Kierkegaard is indeed considered by most people to be the first 'existentialist philosopher', his brand of existentialism differs substantially from that of other existentialists. Kierkegaard goes through a lot of mental gymnastics to validate the existence of God, just as Descartes and many other philosophers have, when it seems that their system doesn't rely on God---- and the method and conclusions of the philosophy suffer for it. Whereas Kierkegaard uses the existentialist premise as a way to argue the need for faith in God, his argument seems flat-out unnecessary in the face of the existentialism which rejects God as a worthwhile premise. Kierkegaard makes a great case for explaining why man is so dualistic, so frightened of uncertainty, and so filled with despair. But the way he deals with this is not to elevate the human capability to will, decide, and act, but through what even he recognizes as 'an insane' leap of faith into theology. Also keep in mind that Kierkegaard was responding to Hegel, and so knowing about Hegel and what he wrote will help you appreciate Kierkegaard's particularly odd sense of humor. If you want to start with Kierkegaard, that's fine --- though he's not the best representative of existentialism. If you want a simple explanation of more modern theories of existentialism, then Sartre's 'Existentialism and Human Emotions' is a good place to start, and the book is easy to find, easy to read, and cheap. If you for some reason have an aversion to a philosophy which rejects theism, and feel that a belief in a deity is an important part of existentialism, then Karl Jaspers' 'Way to Wisdom' is a pretty good book, and Paul Tillich is another Christian writer whose ideas are pretty steeped in Kierkegaardian notions and better developed. But wherever you start, congratulations to your initiative, and good luck in your future study in philosophy. Make sure you don;t just stop with existentialism--- there's lots of other interesting ideas out there to consider, which will augment your understanding of existentialism even more. Hope that helps.
What is the difference between Western philosophy and Eastern philosophy?
Check out this book - Eastern Thought for western mind by Anthony Strano. Eastern thought, especially from south east asia is heavily influenced by Hinduism. Western thought is often influenced by an emphasis on individualism whereas eastern thought emphasises the interdependence of human beings and even nature. The philosophy of "karma" figures prominently in this regard.
How to get Philosophy journal?
For college class: Introduction to philosophy, I am supposed to write journal of 'philosophy' things. Is there kind of book that provides ideas to write everyday specifically 'philosophy' So I can start writing something so I can get good grade. I am supposed to write and then end of semester give my professor my journal to grade it. I am hoping some of you know some kind a book that'll help me. I hope you know what I am talking about. Thank you giving time to read this. Have a good week
What are some good books to learn about Eastern philosophies and religions?
I would highly recommend beginning with Frithjof Schuon’s The Transcendent Unity of Religions. This small tome masterfully differentiates between exoteric philosophy and theology vs. esoteric philosophy and theology, while also giving an insightful introduction to both of these practices in many of the world’s philosophical/theological traditions.From there, you will have the overview necessary to identify your particular interests (e.g., a scholarly exoteric analysis vs. a direct pointing-out instruction; a historical view vs. current practice; the differences in schools within a particular tradition vs. the principles common to all schools in that tradition, etc.).It may be useful to know that, generally, Eastern philosophical traditions tend toward a much wider range of living schools of thought than do Western traditions. For example, Buddhist philosophy alone currently has at least a dozen major divisions and hundreds of sub-schools. The practical virtue of this knowledge is that, if you find an author who presents a single view as being definitive of an Eastern tradition, you may be certain that that author has not studied (or at least, not understood) the full range of that tradition.Finally, if one received one’s early education in Western thought, certain basic concepts may be difficult to grasp. E.g., Western philosophy often assumes a “beginning” to the universe/phenomenal world while many Eastern schools are comfortable with the idea of “beginninglessness”. These are just two different ways of relating to the Great Mystery of how any thing exists in the first place: Western traditions tend to seek a “First Cause” while Eastern traditions are often more comfortable with the idea of a beginningless chain of cause and effect.Hope your exploration is illuminating!
Is it easier for those who study eastern philosophy to accept an absence of free will?
Just as one example, in karma, one’s actions determines one’s fate but one can choose one’s actions.This is one of the themes of Bhagavad-Gita.Which therefore says that life is a mixture of determinism and fate.Which is a little in advance of some of our modern western thought in which people somehow are divided into the free willist and the anti-free willist camps. That is probably because many of us misunderstand free will. It is not the freedom to do anything. It is the freedom to struggle with important but difficult choices.I’m not read in East and Southeast Asian philosophy. But the little I know of Indian Philosophy is that it doesn’t commit your beliefs. You can choose to hold free will true or not but live out the consequences. It’s a philosophy of experience over ideology.The Eastern philosophy that I know does not support an ideology regarding free will.The same is true for the Western Philosophy that I know. It encourages you to figure it out for yourself. And to know that there are probable consequences for your reasoning and what you allow to influence it—e.g. materialism and the paradigm du jour vs. openness of thought.
Where should I begin to start reading about eastern philosophy?
Begin wherever you like!Go with your gut. Pick up a book. Examine the artwork on the cover. Feel the heft of the book, the quality of the paper, the typeface. Open it, read a page or two, and see if it is calling to you. :)(You can of course find free resources online, but I find that reading such topics works best in the distraction-free format of an actual paper book.)I think my introduction as a kid was the book The Power of Myth, by Joseph Campbell. The book is based on a series of interviews, which you should be able to find on YouTube. I think I also read The Tao of Physics in middle school, but I now think it should be read with a hearty pinch of salt!In college I read a translation of the Tao Te Ching. This remains my favorite book of eastern mysticism. Later in college I read many of the main Upanishads.(During this time I also read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, which is not especially eastern, but is worth reading if you’re a philosophical explorer.)I don’t recall all the mystical books I’ve read since college — I’ve collected quite a few over the years. I’ve read about Buddhism, Advaita, Christian mysticism, Sufism, and modern western amalgamations of prior streams of mysticism. They’re all interesting! Right now I’m reading a book on Aztec metaphysics.If you’re interested in the intersection between science and mysticism, I recommend the following books:Rational Mysticism - John HorganWhat is Life? and Mind and Matter - Erwin SchrödingerNote: Not all eastern philosophy is mystical. For example, Confucianism is not especially mystical.