🎉   Please check out our new website over at books-etc.com.

Seller
Your price
£28.00
Out of Stock

Buddhists, Brahmins, and Belief

Epistemology in South Asian Philosophy of Religion

By (author) Dan Arnold
Format: Paperback / softback
Publisher: Columbia University Press, New York, United States
Published: 18th Feb 2008
Dimensions: w 152mm h 229mm d 17mm
Weight: 454g
ISBN-10: 0231132816
ISBN-13: 9780231132817
Barcode No: 9780231132817
Trade or Institutional customer? Contact us about large order quotes.
Synopsis
In Buddhists, Brahmins, and Belief, Dan Arnold examines how the Brahmanical tradition of Purva Mimamsa and the writings of the seventh-century Buddhist Madhyamika philosopher Candrakirti challenged dominant Indian Buddhist views of epistemology. Arnold retrieves these two very different but equally important voices of philosophical dissent, showing them to have developed highly sophisticated and cogent critiques of influential Buddhist epistemologists such as Dignaga and Dharmakirti. His analysis-developed in conversation with modern Western philosophers like William Alston and J. L. Austin-offers an innovative reinterpretation of the Indian philosophical tradition, while suggesting that pre-modern Indian thinkers have much to contribute to contemporary philosophical debates. In logically distinct ways, Purva Mimamsa and Candrakirti's Madhyamaka opposed the influential Buddhist school of thought that emphasized the foundational character of perception. Arnold argues that Mimamsaka arguments concerning the "intrinsic validity" of the earliest Vedic scriptures are best understood as a critique of the tradition of Buddhist philosophy stemming from Dignaga. Though often dismissed as antithetical to "real philosophy," Mimamsaka thought has affinities with the reformed epistemology that has recently influenced contemporary philosophy of religion. Candrakirti's arguments, in contrast, amount to a principled refusal of epistemology. Arnold contends that Candrakirti marshals against Buddhist foundationalism an approach that resembles twentieth-century ordinary language philosophy-and does so by employing what are finally best understood as transcendental arguments. The conclusion that Candrakirti's arguments thus support a metaphysical claim represents a bold new understanding of Madhyamaka.

New & Used

Seller Information Condition Price
-New
Out of Stock

What Reviewers Are Saying

Submit your review
Newspapers & Magazines
Arnold's book is impressive on many levels. It is a brilliant study of several key figures in the history of medieval Indian thought. It is also a thought-provoking and intelligent exploration of contemporary issues in epistemology and philosophy of religion that makes the potential audience of the book much wider than the relatively small circle of those of who delight themselves by picking their way through the briar patches of difficult Sanskrit and Tibetan texts. Finally, it is a profoundly civilized book, one based on an abundant charity of interpretation that offers thoughtful criticism without any trace of a tone of denigration of the many positions entertained... A delightfully provocative book. -- Richard Hayes Journal of the American Academy of Religion Arnold's book has been an instant success, and it is clear that any future work on Dignaga, Candrakirti, and their Hindu rivals will have to take its arguments into account. -- Malcolm David Eckel H-Buddhism A thoroughly stimulating read for anyone interested in Indian, Buddhist or cross-cultural philosophy. -- Douglas Osto The Journal of Religion An illuminating and lucidly written study... recommended for anyone interested in the study of religious thought. -- Mario D'Amato Religious Studies Review Thought-provoking. Journal of Buddhist Ethics