Doing Philosophy Comparatively

Description

Critics have argued that comparative philosophy is inherently flawed or even impossible. What standards can we use to describe and evaluate different cultures’ philosophies? How do we avoid projecting our own ways of thinking onto others? Can we overcome the vast divergences in history, language, and ways of organizing reality that we find in China, India, Africa, and the West? Doing Philosophy Comparatively is the first comprehensive introduction to the foundations, problems, and methods of comparative philosophy. It is divided into three parts: • A wide-ranging examination of the basic concepts of comparative philosophy, including “philosophy,” “comparison,” “tradition,” and “culture.” • A discussion of the central problems that arise in extending philosophy across cultural boundaries: linguistic, justificatory, and evaluative incommensurability; projection and asymmetry; and the validity of cultural generalizations. • A critical look at the dominant contemporary approaches to comparative philosophy. This book offers a basic tool-kit for doing philosophy at the cross-cultural level. Drawing on many examples from the past and present of comparative philosophy, including further reading suggestions and discussion questions, it engages readers in sustained reflection on how to think comparatively. Title Page Copyright Page Contents Acknowledgments Introduction How this Book Works Notes Part I - The Nature of Comparative Philosophy Chapter 1 Is There Such a Thing as Comparative Philosophy? The Legitimacy of “non-Western philosophy” What is “philosophy” in comparative philosophy? The “Comparative” Aspect Conclusion Notes Chapter 2 Two Dimensions of Comparison A First Look at the Two Dimensions The Interpretive Dimension: Comparing to Understand The Constructive Dimension: Comparing to Make Philosophical Progress Conclusion Notes Chapter 3 The Role of Tradition and Culture Tradition and Philosophy Culture Which Traditions? Conclusion Notes Part II The Problems of Comparative Philosophy Part II - The Problems of Comparative Philosophy Chapter 4 Linguistic Incommensurability Background on the Term The Linguistic Relativity Thesis Understanding Other Languages Issues for Comparative Philosophers Conclusion Notes Chapter 5 Foundational and Evaluative Incommensurability Foundational Incommensurability Evaluative Incommensurability Conclusion Notes Chapter 6 One-Sidedness The Meaning of One-sidedness Avoiding One-sidedness Conclusion Notes Chapter 7 Generalization Cultural Essentialism The Generalizations Debate Generalizations and Evidence Conclusion Notes Part III Approaches to Comparison Part III - Approaches to Comparison Chapter 8 Universalism Varieties of Universalism Challenges and Criticisms Conclusion Notes Chapter 9 Pluralism The Case for Pluralism Criticism and Evaluation Conclusion Notes Chapter 10 Consensus Consensus in Theory and Practice Evaluating the Consensus Approach Conclusion Notes Chapter 11 Global Philosophy The Challenge of Global Philosophy External Criticism Global Problem-Solving Conclusion Notes Conclusion Bibliography Index