Publisher's Synopsis
Key features:
Buddhist philosophy in India and China
Lasting effects of the thoughts of Confucius and Lao Tzu
Some attempts to update and later to bypass Confucian thoughts
The oldest philosophical thoughts of India: Vedas and Upanishads
Roots of casteism in India; Manu's Dharma Shastra
Attempts of the ancients to justify worldly life: Artha Shastra and Kama Sutra
Recurrent philosophy supporting religion in India
Pathways to Philosophy is a text meant to introduce to the Western reader the philosophic background of a fairly large number of Chinese and Indians who migrate to the United States and other English-speaking countries. The book traces briefly the variety and evolution of the wisdom in each of these most populated and developing countries. Being familiar with the philosophic traditions of these people with whom people in the West have to deal for good or bad makes it easy to understand, accept, and appreciate their worth.
The book is written as if meant to be an introductory text for a one-semester course to college undergraduates. The instructors, without having to dwell deep into the foreign classics, can easily master the resources with this book as the guide. The student can enjoy the variety of foreign philosophic traditions that will enrich their own.
Related texts:
Sourcebook in Chinese Philosophy
Sourcebook in Indian Philosophy
Wisdom of China and India
