In the second edition of this groundbreaking text in non-Western philosophy, sixteen experts introduce some of the great philosophical traditions in the world. The essays unveil exciting, sophisticated philosophical traditions that are too often neglected in the western world. The contributors include the leading scholars in their fields, but they write for students coming to these concepts for the first time. Building on revisions and updates to the original, this new edition also considers three philosophical traditions for the first time—Jewish, (...) Buddhist, and South Pacific philosophy. (shrink)

American Philosophy and Rudolf Steiner aspires to raise Steiners profile by digging into just one field of inquiry: philosophy. Before he became known to the world as a transmitter of clairvoyant wisdom, Steiner was an academic philosopher, editor of the scientific writings of Goethe and author of a foundational work in philosophy, The Philosophy of Freedom: The Basis for a Modern Worldview, published in 1894. That book expressed in philosophical terms many of the ideas that would later emerge as integral (...) to the spiritual science of Anthroposophy. (shrink)

This essay discusses the similarities and differences between the pragmatic pluralist philosophy of William James and the esoteric philosophy of Rudolf Steiner. James write wrote his Varietiesof Religious Experience as a psychologist of religious experience. He also spent thirty years researching psychical experience. James’s developed his position so as to avoid scientific and religious dogmatism. In the process, he generated countless tentative suggestions. Steiner similarly rejects dogmatic science and religion and in the process offers extensive claims and methods outside the (...) dominant paradigm. James created the field of psychology of religion; Steiner created the esoteric method of spirit science or anthroposophy and its implications, including the Waldorf approach to education and biodynamic agriculture. (shrink)

This is the first single volume to offer such a wide representation of India's experience and scholarship through traditional and contemporary strains as ...