This guide offers a no-nonsense explanation of the history and philosophy ofikido that explains the often esoteric maxims and cryptic teachings inimple terms.

The history of communication is a new subject in mass communication and journalism curricula, one for which there has been only scattered published research and no adequate text. Communication History attempts to remedy both of these problems by providing a challenging new approach to the study of communication over time. Moving away from a tradition that focuses merely on major communication personalities or institutions, the authors instead encourage the reader to see the interrelated processes by which information in diffused. The (...) authors utilize social science concepts and techniques to enlarge and enrich our understanding of communication in historical perspective. (shrink)

Sand and Pebbles : The Tales of Muju Ichien, A Voice for Pluralism in Kamakura Buddhism. Robert E. Morrell. State University of New York Press, Albany 1985. xxii + 383 pp. Cloth $39.50; paper $14.95.

A new edition of the divinely designed explication of Eastern calligraphy, invoking the rich tradition of Japan, China, India, and Tibet to illustrate both the technique and significance of the characters. The volume provides historical background, reflects on the art of copying religious texts, provides biographies of Zen calligraphers, and supplies practical instructions on materials and methods for students. Includes tons of photographs. Distributed by Random House. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR.

The first act ofThyestesis a challenge to the theory that the same Seneca wrote both thephilosophicaand the tragedies. We are compelled by the evil genius of Atreus and not by the common virtue of hisSatelles. Atreus not only feels no compunction at his words, but seems to hone his evil from the prodding. It is the death of philosophy, the anti-mirror of the prince: the tyrant is not reformed, but becomes more himself—more perfectly tyrannical. It is a performance of Socrates’ (...) monster inRepublic9—the soul composed of a hydra of desires with its ring of heads constantly changing, a lion of anger and a small man, who is to domesticate the hydra like a farmer and befriend the lion (588c–589b). The ineffectualSatellesportrays the hopeless plight of Plato's ‘little man reason’ before a lion with monstrous desires like Atreus. There is a place left for philosophy to win over the tyrant only if theSatellesdoes not represent all that reason can do, and stands instead only for gentlemanly virtue or common sense, which lacks the kind oflogosneeded to control the beast. (shrink)