Zen and the Art of Postmodern Philosophy: Two Paths of Liberation from the Representational Mode of Thinking Contributor(s): Olson, Carl (Author) |
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ISBN: 0791446549 ISBN-13: 9780791446546 Publisher: State University of New York Press OUR PRICE: $35.10 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: August 2000 Annotation: This book examines and compares the philosophical positions of various postmodern thinkers and Zen Buddhist philosophers on: language and play; modes of thinking; skepticism and doubt; self and other; time and death; nihilism and metaphysics; and the conception of the end of philosophy. The Zen thinkers dealt with are Dogen and Nishitani, and the Western thinkers are Derrida, Lacan, Heidegger, Lyotard, Foucault, Deleuze and Guatarri, Kristeva, and Levinas. Although each share similar notions concerning the shortcomings of representational thinking, major differences still exist. By clarifying these differences, Olson counters the tendency to overtly assert or covertly imply that postmodern and Zen philosophies are moving in the same direction. "The book is fascinating! I was so excited by this work that I could hardly bear to put it down. Every page is replete with fresh insight. It is rare to discover a writer who is not only conversant, but also clearly expert in both the postmodern approaches Zen traditions. |
Additional Information |
BISAC Categories: - Philosophy | History & Surveys - Modern - Philosophy | Zen - Philosophy | Epistemology |
Dewey: 181.043 |
LCCN: 99058390 |
Physical Information: 0.69" H x 5.91" W x 8.96" (0.90 lbs) 321 pages |
Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
Publisher Description: This book examines and compares the philosophical positions of various postmodern thinkers and Zen Buddhist philosophers on: language and play; modes of thinking; skepticism and doubt; self and other; time and death; nihilism and metaphysics; and the conception of the end of philosophy. The Zen thinkers dealt with are Dogen and Nishitani, and the Western thinkers are Derrida, Lacan, Heidegger, Lyotard, Foucault, Deleuze and Guatarri, Kristeva, and Levinas. Although each share similar notions concerning the shortcomings of representational thinking, major differences still exist. By clarifying these differences, Olson counters the tendency to overtly assert or covertly imply that postmodern and Zen philosophies are moving in the same direction. Some postmodern thinkers and Zen Buddhist philosophers share common philosophical ground with regard to a mutual philosophical attack and attempt to overcome the perceived shortcomings of the representational mode of thinking that conceives of the mind like a mirror and assumes a correspondence between appearance and reality that is supported by a metaphysical structure. |