By dialectical fundamentalism I mean the view that maintains the inerrancy of the orthodox classical scriptures of dialectical materialism; by flexible scientific naturalism I mean the view recognizing the past heuristic value of dialectical materialism, but also the realization for the need to develop and change it along lines suggested by complementary philosophies relevant to the scientific outlook.

Critique of idealistic naturalism: methodological pollution in the main stream of American philosophy, by D. Riepe.--Ex nihilo nihil fit: philosophy's "starting point," by D. H. DeGrood.--An historical critique of empiricism, by J. E. Hansen.--Epilogue on Berkeley, by R. W. Sellars.--Mandala thinking, by A. Mackay.--An empirical conception of freedom, by E. D'Angelo.--Heidegger on the essence of truth, by M. Farber.--Minding as a material force, by H. L. Parsons.--The crisis of the 1890's and the shaping of twentieth century America, by R. B. (...) Carson.--Ideology, scientific philosophy, and Marxism, by J. Somerville.--Marx and critical scientific thought, by M. Marković.--Experimentalism extended to politics, by E. Guevara.--The unity of opposites: a dialectical principle, by V. J. McGill and W. T. Parry.--A need definition of "value," by R. Handy.--Alienation and social action, by A. Schaff.--Naturalism in the Tao of Confucius and Lao Tzu, by D. H.-F. Poe.--Bibliography (p. 260-269). (shrink)

Chapter INTRODUCTION WHY STUDY INDIAN PHILOSOPHY TODAY ? Indian philosophy in the past has been ingenious and original, a worthy contender with Greek and ...

John Taber brings to this study many insights in a well-written and energetic work. He has chosen a challenging task: making understandable three formidable mystics Sankara Fichte, and Heidegger. They all took pride in shifting attention from reason and sense experience to faith and tradition. Of Fichte’s account of Kant’s philosophy, Kant said: “God, save us only from our friends: we can cope with our enemies!”. Sankara and Heidegger also never cease to astonish philosophers who take rationality seriously.