Description
Book SynopsisIntercultural Phenomenology explores the nature of reality by engaging in a cross-cultural dialogue between two of the most influential philosophical traditions of the 20th century.
Drawing on ideas from phenomenology, Japanese philosophy and Zen Buddhism, it follows the philosophers who changed their perception of the world by choosing to suspend judgement. Guided by this philosophical method known as the epoché, or suspension of judgment in ancient Greek, it is an introduction to the philosophy and practice of letting objects in the world speak for themselves.
Inspired by Nishida Kitaro's insight that true reality is beyond the subject-object duality, the book uses a series of examples and exercises to explore the background to Husserl's idea of the phenomenological epoché, Hans-Georg Gadamer's emphasis on play in human understanding and the haiku poet Matsuo Basho''s call for a new level of freedom. This practice-oriented approach moves beyond the tradition
Trade Review
This sparkling book is an antidote to technical philosophy closed to non- specialists. Instead of working through abstract ideas detached from ordinary life, its chapters and exercises open fresh access to philosophy that deepens as well as widens a direct and playful engagement with reality. * John C. Maraldo, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, University of North Florida, USA *
This book presents the dialogue between the phenomenology of Husserl and Heidegger and the Japanese Zen practice integrating philosophy of NIshida and Ueda. In it, the deep dimension of pre-linguistic experience accessible through Husserl's phenomenological reduction is clearly revealed, from which the subject-object duality arises and into which it dissolves. * Ichiro Yamaguchi, Professor emeritus, Faculty of Letters, Toyo University, Japan *
Drawing on Japanese and other Asian as well as European thinkers, this refreshingly accessible book reenvisions the phenomenological epoché as a practice of suspending our pre-judgments—of removing our “colored glasses”—so that we can learn to cooperatively play with the various ways in which reality manifests itself. * Bret W. Davis, Professor and Higgins Chair in Philosophy, Loyola University Maryland, USA *
Table of Contents
List of Figures Series Editor Preface Acknowledgements Introduction Part I 1. An Invitation to Play with Reality 2. Falling into Play 3. Openness, Playfulness and Freedom 4. Practicing Playing 5. A Conversation with Contemplative Traditions Part II 6. Practicing Phenomenology—the Historico-Theoretical Context 7. Practicing Phenomenology—the Personal Side in Practice and ‘Play’ 8. Japanese Perspectives on ‘Practice’, ‘Nature’, and ‘Play’ Recommended Readings Notes Bibliography Index
