Title
The Golden Age of Indian Buddhist Philosophy in the First Millennium CE (The Oxford History of Philosophy),Used
Processing time: 1-3 days
US Orders Ships in: 3-5 days
International Orders Ships in: 8-12 days
Return Policy: 15-days return on defective items
Payment Option
Jan Westerhoff unfolds the story of one of the richest episodes in the history of Indian thought, the development of Buddhist philosophy in the first millennium CE. He starts from the composition of the Abhidharma works before the beginning of the common era and continues up to the time of Dharmakirti in the sixth century. This period was characterized by the development of a variety of philosophical schools and approaches that have shaped Buddhist thought up to the present day: the scholasticism of the Abhidharma, the Madhyamaka's theory of emptiness, Yogacara idealism, and the logical and epistemological works of Dinnaga and Dharmakirti. The book attempts to describe the historical development of these schools in their intellectual and cultural context, with particular emphasis on three factors that shaped the development of Buddhist philosophical thought: the need to spell out the contents of canonical texts, the discourses of the historical Buddha and the Mahayana sutras; the desire to defend their positions by sophisticated arguments against criticisms from fellow Buddhists and from nonBuddhist thinkers of classical Indian philosophy; and the need to account for insights gained through the application of specific meditative techniques. While the main focus is the period up to the sixth century CE, Westerhoff also discusses some important thinkers who influenced Buddhist thought between this time and the decline of Buddhist scholastic philosophy in India at the beginning of the thirteenth century. His aim is that the historical presentation will also allow the reader to get a better systematic grasp of key Buddhist concepts such as nonself, suffering, reincarnation, karma, and nirvana.
⚠️ WARNING (California Proposition 65):
This product may contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm.
For more information, please visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
- Q: What is the main focus of 'The Golden Age of Indian Buddhist Philosophy in the First Millennium CE'? A: The book primarily focuses on the development of Buddhist philosophy from the composition of the Abhidharma works up to the sixth century CE, highlighting various philosophical schools and their intellectual contexts.
- Q: Who is the author of this book? A: The author of 'The Golden Age of Indian Buddhist Philosophy in the First Millennium CE' is Jan Westerhoff.
- Q: How many pages does this book have? A: The book contains 352 pages.
- Q: What is the binding type of this book? A: This book is available in hardcover binding.
- Q: When was 'The Golden Age of Indian Buddhist Philosophy in the First Millennium CE' published? A: The book was published on July 31, 2018.
- Q: What topics are covered in this book? A: The book covers key topics such as the development of various Buddhist philosophical schools, the theory of emptiness, idealism, and historical figures like Dharmakirti.
- Q: Is this book suitable for beginners in Buddhist philosophy? A: While the book offers a comprehensive overview, it may be more suitable for readers with some prior knowledge of Buddhist philosophy due to its academic depth.
- Q: Does this book include illustrations? A: Yes, this edition of the book is illustrated.
- Q: What are some key concepts discussed in the book? A: Key concepts discussed include non-self, suffering, reincarnation, karma, and nirvana.
- Q: Can this book be used for academic purposes? A: Yes, the book is well-researched and provides historical and philosophical insights that can be beneficial for academic study.