Doing Metaphysics in a Diverse World
How We Make Sense of Things Across Cultures
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Publishing:1st May '25
£75.00
This title is due to be published on 1st May, and will be despatched as soon as possible.
The first inclusive introduction to metaphysical themes, texts and thinkers from different traditions across philosophy.
In a world increasingly interconnected and fractious, cross-cultural dialogue about metaphysics matters more than ever. This essential resource introduces us to the multitude of ways philosophers make sense of things.
Drawing on China, Japan, the Indic world, Islamic and European thought as well as pre-colonial African and pre-Spanish meso-American traditions, a team of leading philosophers and historians of ideas bring case studies, texts, themes and thinkers of very different thought worlds into conversation, including:
- The Xunzi and Maimonides’ Guide for the Perplexed
- Spinoza and Wang Bi on substance and change
- The Mayan Popul Vuh and Ibn Arabi on the human role in constructing the cosmos
- Kukai and Gregory Palamas on essence and energy
On the basis of this exceptionally rich and diverse canvas, they reflect on the connections between reality, emptiness, mind and consciousness, asking questions of enduring human significance such as: What is realness? What is beyond the real? What is personhood? How do we order our world? How should we live? Crossing cultures, languages, and history, the authors’ inclusive approach liberates the tradition of metaphysics and comparative philosophy from the constraints of a Western or Eurocentric interpretation.
The collaborative product of discussions among philosophers and historians of ideas over several years, this volume is a rich treasury of comparative philosophy that amply testifies both to human beings’ shared ambitions to understand their world and themselves and to a striking diversity among their attempts to realise these ambitions. * David Cooper, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy, Durham University, UK *
Doing Metaphysics in a Diverse World offers a wonderful cacophony of voices from different philosophical traditions. It draws on voices across time and place to help us make sense of our world now. Yet, it thoughtfullyresists unifying them, instead embracing the complexities that make us human. * Karyn Lai, Professor of Philosophy, The University of New South Wales, Australia *
The erudite, open-minded and thoughtful essays in this volume are a compelling read. They make the case for metaphysics as a way that people make sense of the world, and dialogue within and across different philosophical traditions as the best way to pursue that project. * Melissa Lane, Professor of Politics, Princeton University, USA *
ISBN: 9781350402508
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
424 pages