"…[<i>Ritual and Deference</i>] should find its way to all those who have interest in and want to understand Confucianism and Daoism from the perspective of comparative philosophy." — <i>Monumenta Serica</i><br /><br />"…elegant … More accessible than [Neville's] other monographs, its apparent simplicity is deceptive. While it would inspire and benefit even the novice, only those who have traveled some distance on the same arduous journey would fully appreciate the depth of its understanding and the clarity achieved through struggle with the perennial identity crisis and methodological problems of comparative philosophy." — <i>Philosophy East & West</i><br /><br />"…provides a vision and instills a passion for a constructive philosophy that goes beyond simple comparison. Ritual and Deference is an important resource for anyone who is interested, or should be interested, in the task of comparative philosophy and the renewal of their respective traditions." — <i>Journal of Chinese Religions</i><br /><br />"Neville employs a clear, engaging style." — <i>CHOICE</i><br /><br />"Neville addresses an important methodological issue in contemporary Asian and comparative thought by surveying, drawing on, and adding to recent scholarship. Moreover, he has taken the next step by enthusiastically implementing concrete projects relating to Chinese wisdom for the benefit of contemporary life throughout the globe. It is rare to read an academic work that can elicit joyous laughter in response to the author's sage yet delightfully presented thoughts." — Sandra A. Wawrytko, San Diego State University<br /><br />"The suggested use of the Confucian ideas of ritual and deference in conjunction with important themes in Western thought is certainly a contribution to comparative philosophy, and to philosophy generally." — Kathleen Higgins, author of <i>Comic Relief: Nietzsche's Gay Science</i>

Ritual and Deference develops Robert Cummings Neville's thesis that contemporary philosophy has much to gain by shaping itself through important themes of the Chinese philosophical traditions, especially the themes of ritual and deference. Neville here offers a broad and detailed interpretation of the relevance of Confucianism and Daoism to contemporary issues. The discussion includes analyses of classical Confucian and Daoist texts, especially those of Xunzi and Laozi, and of the current scene of English-speaking philosophy advancing Chinese themes. The book also reflects on the nature of comparative philosophy as such, and the role that comparative philosophy has in the ongoing contemporary engagement with globalization, the clash of cultures, and scientific transformations of the worldviews of diverse civilizations. Neville stresses the importance of deferring to the integrity of cultures while still submitting them to normative analysis and criticism.
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Brings Confucianism and Daoism into conversation with contemporary philosophy and the contemporary world situation.
Preface 1. A Confucian Program Metaphysics Philosophical Cosmology Human Nature Social Theory 2. The Significance of Confucian Values Values for the Good Life: Conventional, Yet Normative A Confucian Solution: Ritual High Civilizations: Competing Values and Global Rituals A Homily on Humaneness 3. Ritual in Xunzi Initial Considerations of Ritual in Xunzi Ritual and Semiotics Ritual and Desire Ritual, Integration, and Religion 4. Daoist Relativism, Ethical Choice, and Normative Measure A Metaphysical Daoism Normative Measure Daoist Ethics Daoism and Confucianism Compared 5. Chinese Influences in English-Speaking Philosophy Scholarly Influences Roger T. Ames and David L. Hall Tu Weiming and Cheng Chungying Wu Kuangming 6. Methodology, Practices, and Disciplines in Chinese and Western Philosophy The Problem Methodology as a Concern Philosophical Practices Philosophical Discipline 7. Metaphysics for Contemporary Chinese Philosophy The Need for Metaphysics Themes of Chinese Philosophy Metaphysical Directions 8. The Conscious and Unconscious Placing of Ritual and Humanity The Unconscious as a Problem for Confucian Virtue Ritual and Humaneness Deceptions of the Heart: Freud Deceptions of the Heart: Marx 9. The Contemporary Mutual Development of Confucianism and Christianity From Reformation of the Inner Heart to Loving the World The Location of Ethical Analysis and Rectifying Power Peace, Action, and Retreat 10. The Personal and the Impersonal in Conceptions of Divinity Popular versus Sophisticated Religion Hypothesis Development Hypothesis: Pre-Axial Age and Axial Age Semiotic Hypothesis Ontological-Anthropological Continuum Hypothesis 11. On Comparison Models of Comparative Theology Objectivist Comparison Normative Comparison Beyond Comparative to Integrative Philosophy 12. Contributions of Chinese Philosophy: A Summary Discussion The Happy Portability of Chinese Philosophy Ritual, Again Ethics, Again Orientation and the Self Notes Index
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Produktdetaljer

ISBN
9780791474570
Publisert
2008-06-05
Utgiver
Vendor
State University of New York Press
Vekt
435 gr
Høyde
229 mm
Bredde
152 mm
Dybde
25 mm
Aldersnivå
G, 01
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Innbundet
Antall sider
218

Om bidragsyterne

Robert Cummings Neville is Professor of Philosophy, Religion, and Theology at Boston University and the author and editor of many books, including Boston Confucianism: Portable Tradition in the Late-Modern World, also published by SUNY Press.